BASF AG is pushing ahead with its development of both erasable and write-once optical storage disks. The giant German company last year introduced a pilot line at its headquarters in Ludwigshafen making erasable and write-once optical disks mainly for personal computer applications. Because the expected application of optical storage media is as mass storage units in small computer systems, BASF is developing 5.25 disks and plans to have samples available to manufacturers during the second half of this year. There is a diversity of optical storage layers available but scientists at BASF are using a recording film for write-once disks that consists of an organic pigment. Expected applications include include filing and storing information and business contracts as well as distributing databases in small volumes. Scientists have chosen a thermo-magneto-optical process for the production of erasable optical disks. Film made of an alloy of rare earth and transition metal elements is recorded by melting the spot in a magnetic field, after which it retains the polarity as it cools; it is read by means of the magneto-optical Kerr Effect, where the phase of the reflected light is altered according to the polarity. However former head of BASF research and development Dr Urs reckons that since magnetic media are not at the end of their development one cannot be sure that optical disks will actually take off. He revealed that BASF is investing in research on the assumption that there will be zero impact from optical disks on the sale of magnetic media over the next five years. He also believes that optical storage will not have any effect on the market for magnetic storage equipment and media for a decade.
