In contrast to dosimeters, which are activated by X-rays or gamma rays, this storage device is triggered by a simple ultraviolet laser. The laser excites the lanthanides, causing them to release electrons. These electrons are captured by defects in the oxide crystal, such as gaps where a single oxygen atom is missing. The technique leverages these inherent defects, which are found in both natural and artificial crystals.
While crystal defects are commonly used in quantum research to create “qubits,” the UChicago PME team discovered a new application. They successfully controlled which defects were charged and which weren’t, designating charged gaps as “ones” and uncharged gaps as “zeros”, with the innovation transforming the crystal into a highly efficient memory storage device, surpassing previous limits in classical computing.