Segmented cylindrical vector beams for massively-encoded optical data storage

基于柱状矢量光的大容量光信息存储

The possibility to achieve unprecedented multiplexing of light-matter interaction in nanoscale is of virtue importance from both fundamental science and practical application points of view. Cylindrical vector beams(CVBs) manifested as polarization vortices represent a robust and emerging degree of freedom for information multiplexing with increased capacities. Here, we propose and demonstrate massivelyencoded optical data storage(ODS) by harnessing spatially variant electric fields mediated by segmented CVBs. By tight focusing polychromatic segmented CVBs to plasmonic nanoparticle aggregates, recordhigh multiplexing channels of ODS through different combinations of polarization states and wavelengths have been experimentally demonstrated with a low error rate. Our result not only casts new perceptions for tailoring light-matter interactions utilizing structured light but also enables a new prospective for ultra-high capacity optical memory with minimalist system complexity by combining CVB’s compatibility with fiber optics.

在纳米尺度下实现光和物质相互作用的复用调控具有重要的科学意义和应用价值.具有独特偏振涡旋特性的柱状矢量光被认为是一种能够增加信息复用容量的光场调控新自由度.本文基于紧聚焦柱状矢量光电场矢量的不均匀特性实现了高密度的光信息复用存储.该工作将起偏后的多波长柱状矢量光聚焦作用在耦合无序金纳米颗粒上,并利用不同波长和偏振态组合的紧聚焦柱状矢量光在一个存储单元中创造了复用存储通道数目的新纪录,且其复用存储误码率较低.本文不仅为利用结构光调控光和物质相互作用提供新思路,而且有望通过结构光与光纤激光器的兼容性降低多维信息存储系统的成本,有助于实现低系统复杂度的大容量数据存储.