Holographic Data Storage: demonstrating the capability to organise nanoparticles into 3D assemblies in a recording medium using optical forces produced by the gradients of standing waves

The development of nanostructures that can be reversibly arranged and assembled into 3D patterns may enable optical tunability. However, current dynamic recording materials such as photorefractive polymers cannot be used to store information permanently while also retaining configurability.

This project aims to demonstrate the capability to organise nanoparticles into 3D assemblies in a recording medium using optical forces produced by the gradients of standing waves. The nanoparticles in the recording medium will be organised by multiple nanosecond laser pulses to produce reconfigurable slanted multilayer structures. The capability of producing rewritable optical elements will be demonstrated by producing multilayer Bragg diffraction gratings, 1D photonic crystals, and 3D multiplexed optical gratings. This recording strategy may have applications in reconfigurable optical elements, data storage devices, and dynamic holographic displays.

The successful student will form part of a multidisciplinary team and will be supervised by Dr. Ali K. Yetisen based in the School of Chemical Engineering at the University of Birmingham.