University of California Assigned Patent

Near field optical recording system
having negative index of refraction structure

The University of California, Oakland, CA, has been assigned a patent (8,345,518) developed by five co-inventors for a "near field optical recording system having negative index of refraction structure."

The co-inventors are Sakhrat Khizroev, Riverside, CA, Rabee Ikkawi, Pembroke Pines, Fla., Nissim Amos, Moreno Valley, CA, Roman Chomko, and Alexander Balandin, Riverside, CA.

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "High density-information storage is accomplished by the use of novel, near-field optical devices in combination with high-density storage media. The near-field optical devices are configured to focus light to nanoscale spot sizes and may employ negative index of refraction materials for focusing. The high-density storage media may include protein-based storage media, such as photochromic proteins, and high-coercivity magnetic storage media. Light energy provided the optical devices may enable exposed protein molecules to transition between stable molecular states that may be distinguished on the basis of their respective spectral maxima. Light energy provided by the optical device may also be used to heat localized regions of magnetic media to a selected temperature, effecting local changes in coercivity of the magnetic media. Information may be written to the magnetic storage media within this localized region using a magnetic recording device, while leaving the magnetic state of the remaining portion of the magnetic storage media unchanged."

The patent application was filed on July 17, 2009 (12/505,434).