STATUS OF OPTICAL DATA STORAGE.

The performance characteristics and implications of recently introduced read-only and write-once optical storage systems are summarized and discussed. The recent developments in reversible optical storage media, and the critical issues which remain, are also reviewed. The two major candidates for reversible optical storage media continue to be the amorphous to crystalline phase change (AXPC) chalcogenide-based materials, and the rare, earth-transition metal (RE-TM) magneto-optic (MO) materials. Progress continues to be made in both areas, although the published literature reflects the currently more intense activity directed towards MO media.