Polymeric Data Memories and Polymeric Substrate Materials for Information Storage Devices

Starting with a review of optical data memories, this paper then goes into detail on the specific uses of polymers as substrate materials and/or active memory layers in optical data memories. The polymer developments underway for these applications are compared and discussed on the basis of selected examples. In this connection, reference is made to calculation methods for determining the birefringence of polymers and an explanation is given of improvements in measurement and evaluation techniques in the determination of the birefringence of polymers.