Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!ucsd!ucbvax!van-bc!rsoft!mindlink!a186
From: a186@mindlink.UUCP (Harvey Taylor)
Newsgroups: comp.arch
Subject: Data Storage density questions
Message-ID: <2635@mindlink.UUCP>
Date: 26 Jul 90 02:33:12 GMT
Organization: MIND LINK! - British Columbia, Canada
Lines: 34


    [I know this article probably belongs in alt.exotic.hardware or
 something, but I think the people who could answer the question(s)
 are here.]

    I just received the March 8, 1990 Electronic Design [don't ask me;
 ask the snails] and there is an article about using Scanning-Tunnelling
 Microscope (STM) technology to make pits in silicon suitable for a
 mutated type of CD-ROM. They (Philips Research Laboratories) are
 looking at increasing the data density by approximately 10,000. That
 would mean a Terabyte CD-ROM. They're currently making holes 0.6 nm
 deep and 10 nm across.
    Now this is still in the research stage. So all the caveats
 applicable to such work apply. There is no product proposal. It may not
 be feasible. How would you ever mass produce them?
    Still it would be nice.

    What I am wondering is, has anybody tried to project what might be
 the maximum possible data density achievable (on a plane)?

    (This shades into nanotech.)
    How many atoms do you have to (re)move to constitute a pit, for a
 range of materials? Metals, semiconductors, plastics ...

    Blue Sky mode on:
    Wouldn't it be nice to be able to get the kind of storage capacities
 a 3D structure would bring? Any proposed mechanism?
    What might the maximum possible data density in a cube be?
    <-Harvey

 "Nothing belongs to you more properly than your dreams" - Nietzche
      Harvey Taylor      Meta Media Productions
       uunet!van-bc!rsoft!mindlink!Harvey_Taylor
               a186@mindlink.UUCP