HoloMem: Developing a novel holographic data storage technology to address the growing need within global data storage

总部位于英国的中小企业HoloMem致力于开发一种开创性的低成本全息数据存储(HDS)解决方案，提供高面密度和低能耗。HoloMem的新方法将满足全球数据圈内用于归档和云存储的指数级数据存储容量增长的需求。现有数据中心/机房消耗全球约2%的电力\[AKCP，2022\]，到2030年指数级增长，接近全球总需求的8%[EnergyInnovationLLP，2022\]。约40%的数据中心运行成本用于空调以稳定数据存储硬件的热环境[ITPro，2022\]。目前的解决方案是能源密集型的，在没有重大基础设施建设(能源生产和数据中心)的情况下，无法根据市场需求快速扩展。约37亿人使用互联网，每天产生2500 PB的数据。到2025年，每年需要存储160 ZB(160,000,000 PB)的数据。预计到2035年，这一数字将增加33倍，达到2，14 ZB。现有的解决方案，如线性开放磁带(LTOv9)、硬盘驱动器(HDD)和固态驱动器(SSD)，能耗高、维护成本高、规模昂贵。HoloMem创建了一种可演示的自动化原型，可以在光聚合物介质上以微全息图的形式写入/读取数据。该技术依赖于易于获取的材料，允许快速制造/扩展，并且在运行时不需要主动冷却。在该项目中，HoloMem将优化数据存储密度，减少噪音/干扰，并确定激光强度和曝光长度的最有效组合，以优化低能量数据记录和图像清晰度。对各种光致聚合物类型的工业测试将为HoloMem的应用提供最佳选择，同时考虑最大的寿命和可回收利用(特别是使用寿命结束时)。HoloMem的项目与其他将光折变晶体与全息术结合使用的尝试不同，因为它使用了众所周知的多路复用技术，与现代光聚合物记录材料相结合，并采用了众所周知的胶片传输技术。HoloMem在短期内满足了全球对经济高效、可持续和高密度存储解决方案的需求。

UK-based SME, HoloMem, aims to develop a pioneering, low-cost holographic data storage (HDS) solution that offers high areal densities and low-energy usage. HoloMem's novel approach will address the need for exponential data storage capacity growth within the global datasphere for archival and cloud storage.Existing data-centres/rooms consume ~2% of worldwide electricity \[AKCP,2022\], growing exponentially towards 8% of total global demand by 2030 \[EnergyInnovationLLP,2022\]. ~40% of data-centre running costs are attributed to air-conditioning to stabilise thermal environments for data storage hardware \[ITPro,2022\]. Current solutions are energy-intensive and don't have the capacity to rapidly scale to market demand without significant infrastructure development (energy production and data-centres).~3.7bn people use the internet, generating 2,500 Petabytes(PB) of data/day. By 2025, 160 Zettabytes(ZB) (160,000,000 PB) of data will need to be stored annually. This is projected to increase 33x by 2035 to 2,14 ZB. Existing solutions such as linear-open-tape (LTOv9), hard disk drives (HDD) and solid-state drives (SSD) are energy-intensive, costly to maintain, and expensive at scale.HoloMem has created a demonstrable automated prototype that writes/reads data as micro-holograms on photopolymer media. The technology relies on readily-accessible materials, allowing rapid manufacturability/scalability, and requires no active cooling whilst in operation.In this project HoloMem will optimise data storage densities, reduce noise/interference and identify the most efficient combination of laser intensity and exposure length to optimise for low-energy data recording and image clarity. Industrial testing of various photopolymer types will inform on the best selection for HoloMem's applications, whilst considering maximum longevity and recyclability (particularly end-of-life).HoloMem's project differentiates from other attempts to use photorefractive crystals in conjunction with holography because of its use of well-understood multiplex techniques combined with modern photopolymer recording materials and adaptation of well-known film transport techniques. HoloMem addresses the global need for a cost-effective, sustainable and high-density storage solution in the near-term.