ABSTRACT
This entry discusses the physical origin of holographic data storage, the components, and the engineering required to realize them. The strengths and weaknesses of available write-once and read-writeable storage media are discussed, including the crucial issue of achieving nonvolatile readout from read–write media. System issues such as the major noise sources and avenues for defeating or finessing them are detailed, including the potentials and pitfalls of phase-conjugate readout and holographic storage on spinning media. The unique opportunities offered by using massively parallel optical correlation to instantaneously search through digital databases are then presented. The current state of holographic storage research and development efforts in the context of ongoing improvements to established storage technologies is described.
