Optical switch, especially for information storage and retrieval

Details Optical switch, especially for information storage and retrieval Optical switch, especially for information storage and retrieval

1985-10-29

1987-12-15

Hecker, Stuart N.

Static information storage and retrieval

Radiant energy

Color centers

350354, G03C 172, G11C 1300, G02F 101

Patent

active

047137959

ABSTRACT:
Nitroprusside single crystals having the formula M.sub.n [Fe(CN).sub.5 ]nH.sub.2 O, where M is a metal that forms a nitroprusside is found to have the property, when cooled to a temperature in the range between 160.degree. K. and 250.degree. K., of convertability into a long-duration metastable state by irradiation with coherent blue-green light and to return to the original state when irradiated with red light. Barium nitroprusside Ba[Fe(CN).sub.5 ]2H.sub.2 O can be switched rapidly from one state to the other without requiring cooling below about 200.degree. K. and lends itself particularly well to making single crystal memories for writing with a blue-green laser beam and reading with a red laser beam, with the readout being picked up by a photodetector diode array, on which the radiation from the nitroprusside crystal is focused. The incident laser beams are pulsed and the photodetector is turned off during pulsing. Movable laser mirrors are used to direct the laser beams to locations on the surface of the crystal in a manner controlled by an address program.

REFERENCES:
patent: 3445826 (1969-05-01), Myers
patent: 4166254 (1979-08-01), Bjorklund
patent: 4382660 (1983-05-01), Pratt, Jr. et al.
patent: 4626075 (1986-12-01), Chemla
Physical Review Letters, vol. 53, No. 18, by Woike et al, Oct. 1984, Extremely Long Living Metastable State of Na.sub.2 [Fe(CN).sub.5 NO].2H.sub.2 O Single Crystals.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Optical switch, especially for information storage and retrieval does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Optical switch, especially for information storage and retrieval, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Optical switch, especially for information storage and retrieval will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1224417