Using this method, storage capacities can be achieved that make today's available storage by optical disc look pretty weak. A single layer Blu-ray disc can store 25GB of data and a dual layer BD disc holds 50GB. Single-layer and dual-layer HD DVD discs store 15GB and 30GB of data respectively.
The 500GB prototype contains 50 data-storage layers. Professor Susanna Orlic explained to German site Pressetext that applying wavelength multiplexing techniques to multi-layer disc structures, you can achieve very high densities. The goal of this high-storage media would not be to distribute movies or games, but would be more geared toward long-term data storage instead.
Source:
The Register
Written by: James Delahunty @ 7 Jul 2007 16:56