Spatially-spectrally swept optical memories and addressing methods

A method of storing a first data record and a second data record, the data records including one or more data bits, comprising:

• providing a storage material having an inhomogeneously broadened absorption of linewidth (Δνi) that is greater than the channel bandwidth (Δνch) used to store a single data bit;
• providing a first reference pulse to the storage material, the first reference pulse having a first starting frequency within the inhomogeneous linewidth (Δνi) and a first starting spatial position on the storage material and following a first spatial-spectral trajectory that spans a first spectral region greater than the spectral channel bandwidth Δνch and less than or equal to the inhomogeneous linewidth Δνi;
• providing a first data pulse to the storage material, the first data pulse having a second starting frequency within the inhomogeneous linewidth (Δνi) and a second starting spatial position on the storage material, the first data pulse following a second spatial-spectral trajectory that spans a second spectral width that is greater than the spectral channel bandwidth (Δνch) and that is less than or equal to the inhomogeneous linewidth (Δνi), the first data pulse having a modulation corresponding to a first data record;
• recording the first data record in the storage material by exposing the storage material to the first data pulse and the first reference pulse;
• providing a second reference pulse, the second reference pulse having a third starting frequency within the inhomogeneous linewidth (Δνi) and a third starting spatial position on the storage material, the second reference pulse following a third spatial-spectral trajectory that spans a third spectral width that is greater than the spectral channel bandwidth (Δνch) and that is less than or equal to the inhomogeneous linewidth (Δνi), wherein the third spatial-spectral trajectory does not overlap the first spatial-spectral trajectory;
• providing a second data pulse having a fourth starting frequency within the inhomogeneous linewidth (Δνi) and a fourth starting spatial position on the storage material, the second data pulse following a fourth spatial-spectral trajectory that spans a fourth spectral width greater than the spectral channel bandwidth (Δνch) and that is less than or equal to the inhomogeneous linewidth (Δνl), wherein the fourth spatial-spectral trajectory is the same as the third spatial-spectral trajectory, and the second data pulse has a modulation corresponding to a second data record;
• recording the second data record in the storage material by exposing the storage material to the second reference pulse and the second data pulse.

A method of storing data, comprising:

• providing a storage material having multiple cells each capable of absorbing electromagnetic radiation within an inhomogeneous linewidth and having spectral channels each having a homogeneous linewidth within the inhomogeneously linewidth;
• providing a reference pulse of electromagnetic radiation, the reference pulse exhibiting a frequency chirp within the inhomogeneous linewidth;
• providing a data pulse of electromagnetic radiation, the data pulse exhibiting a frequency chirp within the inhomogeneous linewidth, the frequency chirp of the data pulse offset with respect to the frequency chirp of the reference pulse, the data pulse having a modulation corresponding to the data;
• exposing the storage cells to the data pulse and the reference pulse while spatially scanning the data and reference pulses through the storage cells.