INNOVATIVE MASS STORAGE TECHNOLOGIES IMST WHITEWHITE BOOKBOOK March 2006 INNOVATIVE MASS STORAGE TECHNOLOGIES “IMST White Book” Mass data storage, memories for the future everyday life A road map for the European R&D IMST White Book 2006 1 /101 The authors are currently active in the area of Mass Data Storage Technologies in the Industry, the Universities or the Research Centres from the European Union. They represent the scientific committee of the Innovative Mass Storage Technologies Conference (IMST). Created in 2000 by European scientists and industrials, this International Conference provides a unique opportunity to cover the latest advancements of the research and to observe the latest trends in the areas of solid state, optical, magnetic and emerging technologies for data storage. Bernard BECHEVET (CEA - Leti / Grenoble) Yves SAMSON (CEA - DSM / Grenoble) Coordination David WRIGHT (Exeter University / Exeter) Emerging technologies Claude CHAPPERT (CNRS- Université de Paris Sud, IEF / Orsay) Magnetic memories Jos van HAAREN (PHILIPS / Eindhoven) Walter Hofmann (HIMEX/ Zurich) Optical memories Livio BALDI, Roberto BEZ (ST Microelectronics / Milano) Doris KEITEL-SCHULZ (Infineon / Munich) Solid state memories Though the authors share the opinions and analysis expressed in this book, its content cannot be seen as reflecting an official position from their respective institutions or companies. The .pdf file of the Innovative Mass Storage Technologies White Book report can be downloaded on the Web site of the IMST Conference : http://www.imst.org IMST White Book 2006 2 /101 Contents A two page summary (Part. 2) first underlines the key role of Mass Data Storage in the Information and Communication Society and the proposed actions to strengthen the European position. Part 3 offers a large overview of the impact of Mass Data Storage on industry, economy and citizen life, and displays some of the most exciting opportunities opened in the near future. Next, part 4 provides a thorough review of the technical trends, of the economic activity (with an incentive on the European position), in the four areas covered by the White Book: Solid State Memories, Optical Memories, Magnetic Memories and Emerging Technologies for Memories. In each case, the state of the European research is reviewed, and the authors underline what they consider the best actions to take to maintain and develop a strong EU based research and industry. Part 5 is brief, but dedicated to a real challenge: how we will be able to transmit to the future the huge amount of data we create, using technologies that are so rapidly evolving. Part 6 gathers the view presented in part 4 in each technical chapter to ensure the development and exploitation of appropriate R&D in Mass Data Storage Technologies in Europe Finally, Part 7 reminds of the past EU sponsored research effort in Mass Data Storage by providing a list of recent or ongoing research projects. 1Summary..........................................................................................................................................5 2 Mass data storage technologies in IST: challenges and opportunities, the European position........7 2.1 Information and Communication Technologies today: an area of opportunities, a major source of economic growth..................................................................................................................7 2.2 Mass Storage Technologies ...................................................................................................11 2.2.1 Data storage everywhere - A deep impact on citizen life and work - Technologies going to citizen 11 2.2.2 The memory… always a strategic part – research on generic technologies..................13 2.2.3 Dreaming of the future: new applications......................................................................14 2.2.4 The markets - the European position and industry ........................................................16 2.2.5 The IMST conferences – The White Book....................................................................21 3 Overview of the main technologies for mass data storage: technical challenges, market trends, European position ..................................................................................................................................23 3.1 Solid state memories..............................................................................................................23 IMST White Book 2006 3 /101 3.1.1 Needs and relevance ......................................................................................................23 3.1.2 Memory Technology......................................................................................................24 3.1.3 Status of the Market.......................................................................................................29 3.1.4 The role of Europe .........................................................................................................32 3.1.5 Opportunities for Research ............................................................................................33 3.2 Optical memories...................................................................................................................37 3.2.1 Optical discs today.........................................................................................................37 3.2.2 Three generations optical storage ..................................................................................39 3.2.3 Improvements of CD, DVD and BD..............................................................................40 3.2.4 Next generations ............................................................................................................41 3.3 Magnetic memories................................................................................................................53 3.3.2 Mainstream technologies ...............................................................................................56 3.3.3 Emerging magnetic recording technology: magnetic random access memory .............67 3.4 Emerging technologies for mass data storage........................................................................74 3.4.1 Introduction - Are new technologies necessary? ...........................................................74 3.4.2 Scanning probe-based storage .......................................................................................76 3.4.3 Biologically-inspired data storage .................................................................................84 3.4.4 Spintronics : mixing spin and semiconductors ..............................................................86 3.4.5 The role of Europe .........................................................................................................86 4 Preservation of Cultural Heritage ..................................................................................................89 5 Recommendations to strengthen the European position................................................................91 6 Appendix: Main European Projects on Mass Data Storage Technologies ....................................98 Image taken from the IMST Conference graphic files IMST White Book 2006 4 /101 1 Summary At the core of the challenges, and successes, of the development of the ICT technologies over 40 years has been the continuous and fast increase of the capacity of memories. Incredible progress in magnetic memories (hard disk…), optical formats (CD, DVD…), and semiconductor solid state memories (USB keys…) has been enabled by innovation from intensive R&D in Europe, US and Japan, and fostered innovation in many other areas of technology. The market opportunities opened by these innovations have clearly addressed many fundamental expectations of citizens, and the critical needs of the industry. As a result, the progress of mass storage technologies is intimately associated with the development or the creation of key areas of the modern economies, such as telecommunications, leisure (music, films, games…), banking, improving work productivity and work accessibility (easiness), transportation… The data mass storage technologies are fundamental building blocks of ICT. They will increase the quality of life for the citizens in areas reaching from education to entertainment, from working environment to health services. They also save resources, and strongly contribute to further economic growth, securing employment. Currently around 70,000 people in Europe are directly and 300,000 indirectly involved production or research related to mass data storage. The dynamic knowledge- based objectives of the Lisbon process will find a new impetus through new technology take-up in the area of mass data storage technologies World-wide, mass data storage technologies are today a market in the 40 – 50 Billion of Euro range. Europe has been and is a global driver in storage research and innovation through a strong supply industry. However, it seems that the EU is now investing proportionately less than its main competitors into R&D. To preserve the existence of EU based world-class production facilities in mass data storage technologies, and to secure competitive position in the markets linked to emerging technologies for mass data storage, it is crucial that a favourable environment for innovation and investment is created. This is especially true for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), and to