A Japanese company Adamant Namiki Precision Jewelry Company, working with researchers from Saga University in Kyushu, Japan has developed a new method to produce diamond wafers that could soon be used in quantum computers. This technology could lead to the realization of quantum computers in the future. 

Figure 1. Diamond wafers can be used in quantum computers.

Figure 1 shows that Diamonds are one of the most promising materials for quantum computing systems. But too much nitrogen in a diamond disrupts its quantum storage capabilities.[1]

Diamond holds a lot of potential as a storage medium for quantum computing thanks to a structural defect known as a nitrogen-vacancy center that can be used to store data as qubits (short for quantum bit) at room temperature, but the process used to manufacture diamonds in a lab relies on nitrogen, and too much nitrogen in the final product can hinder its ability to reliably store qubits.

In order for diamonds to be used in quantum computing applications, they have to be incredibly pure, with a nitrogen concentration of less than three parts per billion. To date, diamond wafers with that level of purity have been limited to just four-millimeters in size, making them too small for practical applications. [2] 

With this technique, the team says the resulting diamond wafers measure 5 cm across, and have such immense data density that they can theoretically store the equivalent of a billion Blu-Ray discs.

One Blu-Ray can store up to 25 GB (assuming it’s single-layered), which would mean this diamond wafer should be able to store a whopping 25 exabytes (EB) of data. The company calls these wafers Kenzan Diamond.

Achieving this requires a new manufacturing technique. Diamond wafers are made by growing the crystals on a substrate material, and that material is usually a flat surface. The problem is, the diamond can crack under the strain, degrading the quality.

In the new process, the team made a relatively simple change – the substrate surface was shaped like steps, which spreads the strain horizontally and prevents cracking. This allows them to make larger diamond wafers with higher purity.

The team hopes to commercialize these diamond wafers in 2023, and in the meantime are already working towards doubling the diameter to 10 cm (4 in). [3]

References:

1. https://www.industrytap.com/this-two-inch-diamond-wafer-can-store-a-whopping-billion-blu-rays-worth-of-data/62448
2. https://gizmodo.com/quantum-computing-diamond-disc-could-store-billion-blu-1848853029
3. https://newatlas.com/electronics/2-inch-diamond-wafers-quantum-memory-billion-blu-rays/

Cite this article:

Sri Vasagi K (2022), A Billion Blu-Ray Data can be Stored In 2-Inch Diamond Wafer, AnaTechMax, pp.130