Researchers at Seagate Technology are pursuing a laser heating recording method to improve the capacity of computer hard drives.

The researchers have developed a test magnetic recording head that includes a new device that acts like an optical antenna. They say that a thin film of tiny magnetic particles could be heated while receiving data bits and made more stable. The device, a near-field transducer, can focus a laser beam inside an area less than 75 nanometers in diameter.

The researchers say that as the grains cool down, their magnetic alignment is stabilized by the laser heating and allows them to hold data indefinitely. As a result, diskmakers would be able to pack rows of bits more tightly, which would significantly increase data-storage space. Engineering adjustments, such as improving the delivery of laser light to the recording head, should enable the team to surpass the industry standard of 250 gigabytes per square inch.

The researchers believe they can perfect the technology before the storage capacity of standard, magnetic hard drives is reached in about five years.

Source: ScienceMag.org

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