UChicago Researchers Store Data in Atomic Crystal Defects

Researchers at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering have demonstrated a method for storing classical computer memory utilising atomic-scale defects within crystals. The team, led by Assistant Professor Tian Zhong and including postdoctoral researcher Leonardo Frana, created memory cells from single missing atoms, effectively leveraging the principle that any system with distinct on and off states can store information. This approach allows for the potential storage of terabytes of data within a cubic millimetre of material, building upon Frana’s prior research into radiation dosimeters – devices that record radiation levels by absorbing and storing information within materials. The findings, published in Nanophotonics, represent an application of quantum techniques to enhance classical, non-quantum computing storage capacity.

Researchers at the University of Chicago have demonstrated a novel approach to data storage utilising imperfections within crystal structures – specifically, atomic-scale missing atoms – to represent binary data. This technique circumvents traditional limitations imposed by the physical size of storage components, potentially enabling terabytes of data to be stored within a cubic millimetre of material. The innovation draws upon principles typically associated with quantum computing, but is applied to enhance the capacity of classical, non-quantum computers.

Each individual missing atom within the crystal lattice functions as a memory cell, representing either a ‘one’ or a ‘zero’. This approach was initially inspired by research into radiation dosimeters, devices used to measure radiation exposure, which utilise materials capable of absorbing radiation and retaining information about the dosage received. The team’s work, published in Nanophotonics, builds upon this principle, demonstrating the feasibility of utilising similar defects to store arbitrary digital information. The potential density afforded by this method – terabytes within a millimetre-sized cube – represents a significant advancement over conventional storage technologies, and the research highlights the potential of “crystal defect memory” as a future data storage solution.