Scientists use crystals to cram terabytes of data into millimeter-sized memory

University of Chicago stores terabytes in a crystal using atomic defects.

: The University of Chicago team created terabyte-capacity storage using a millimeter-sized crystal cube. By leveraging single-atom defects in the crystal, they achieved binary data representation. The process involved rare-earth ions in a crystal lattice. This breakthrough offers compact, high-capacity storage solutions.

Researchers at the University of Chicago achieved a significant milestone by storing terabytes of data in a millimeter-sized crystal cube. They used single-atom defects within the crystal structure to represent binary data, effectively cramming a lot of information into a tiny space.

The research team, led by assistant professor Tian Zhong, incorporated praseodymium ions into a yttrium oxide crystal. They activated the system using a simple ultraviolet laser, which energizes the rare-earth ions and traps electrons in the crystal's natural defects to create a binary system.

This innovative storage method combines quantum methodologies with classical computing principles. By controlling the charge state of the defects, they were able to move beyond traditional storage limitations, potentially redefining data storage capacities.

crystal memorydata storagemolecular engineering