Silver Clusters Embedded in Glass as a Perennial High Capacity Optical Recording Medium

Three-dimensional optical recording by laser-induced fluorescent silver clusters is demonstrated in glass. The fluorescence properties of these stable clusters can be altered, depending on the glass recording exposure conditions. A “Blu-ray”-like drive enables readout of the information inside the glass without cross-talk and photobleaching (see figure). This original recording medium can provide an answer to the societal problem of long-term high-density data storage.