Advanced optical storage techniques for computers.

The growing demand for data storage in computing systems has stimulated the investigation of optical memory techniques because they offer a potential improvement in packing density of about two orders of magnitude over the apparent limits of conventional magnetic storage techniques. Physical properties and optical memory characteristics of magnetooptic thin-films of manganese bismuth have been investigated with regard to both bit-oriented and holographic memories. All the required technology for design of a bit-oriented memory appears to be available, but several key components required for a holographic memory still remain to be developed.