In a case where (i) a reflectance calculated from a reflected light amount obtained from a longest pit (P1max) or a longest space (S1max) in a first pit row is defined as a first reflectance and (ii) a reflectance calculated from a reflected light amount obtained from a longest pit (P2max) or a longest space (S2max) in the second pit row is defined as a second reflectance, the first pit row is formed such that the first reflectance becomes substantially identical with the second reflectance.

In a case where (i) a reflectance calculated from a reflected light amount obtained from a longest pit (P1max) or a longest space (S1max) in a first pit row is defined as a first reflectance and (ii) a reflectance calculated from a reflected light amount obtained from a longest pit (P2max) or a longest space (S2max) in the second pit row is defined as a second reflectance, the first pit row is formed such that the first reflectance becomes substantially identical with the second reflectance.

In a case where (i) a reflectance calculated from a reflected light amount obtained from a longest pit (P1max) or a longest space (S1max) in a first pit row is defined as a first reflectance and (ii) a reflectance calculated from a reflected light amount obtained from a longest pit (P2max) or a longest space (S2max) in the second pit row is defined as a second reflectance, the first pit row is formed such that the first reflectance becomes substantially identical with the second reflectance.

Methods and apparatus for archival storage of an image are disclosed. The image is converted into one or more bit plane images. Fiducial markers are generated and written onto digital optical tape concurrent with writing the one or more bit plane images onto the digital optical tape.

When a simple magnification optical system is used in reproduction of a recording medium in which a large number of minute modified regions are three-dimensionally formed inside solid matter, contrast is insufficient and interlayer crosstalk is increased, and therefore, it is impossible to take a sufficient S/N ratio. Provided is a recording medium in which at least one layer is configured by a set of two adjacent sub-layers, and dots on a sub-layer correspond to a recording data 1 and dots on the other sub-layer correspond to 0. These data are played back.

When a simple magnification optical system is used in reproduction of a recording medium in which a large number of minute modified regions are three-dimensionally formed inside solid matter, contrast is insufficient and interlayer crosstalk is increased, and therefore, it is impossible to take a sufficient S/N ratio. Provided is a recording medium in which at least one layer is configured by a set of two adjacent sub-layers, and dots on a sub-layer correspond to a recording data 1 and dots on the other sub-layer correspond to 0. These data are played back.

Described are optical recording media for recording data in voxels, the optical recording media including a plurality of data recording regions for recording the voxels, the data recording regions separated by buffer regions having optical properties such that illumination from a reader that enters one of the data recording regions remains preferentially confined in said one of the data recording regions until being scattered by interaction with one or more of the voxels. Also described are methods for reading the described optical recording media, which include separating the light received from illuminating the voxels based on wavelength, polarization, or other optical properties.

Described are optical recording media for recording data in voxels, the optical recording media including a plurality of data recording regions for recording the voxels, the data recording regions separated by buffer regions having optical properties such that illumination from a reader that enters one of the data recording regions remains preferentially confined in said one of the data recording regions until being scattered by interaction with one or more of the voxels. Also described are methods for reading the described optical recording media, which include separating the light received from illuminating the voxels based on wavelength, polarization, or other optical properties.

A differential voxel symbol reader is alternatively configured to detect phase or polarization changes in a probe light beam caused by interactions with voxels distributed in an optical storage medium as light-scattering nanostructures. Rather than determine an absolute change in the state of the probe signal from an interaction with a voxel being read, a relative change is detected by comparing the probe light beam against an orthogonally-polarized reference light beam that propagates over an overlapping path with the probe light beam. The overlapping paths for the probe and reference light beams provide that each is subject to substantially the same impairments during propagation through the medium. The overlap largely cancels the effects of light scattering and impairments from the other voxels in the medium that cause shifts in phase and/or polarization which would otherwise scramble the signals to thereby reduce the accuracy and reliability of the reading process.

A differential voxel symbol reader is alternatively configured to detect phase or polarization changes in a probe light beam caused by interactions with voxels distributed in an optical storage medium as light-scattering nanostructures. Rather than determine an absolute change in the state of the probe signal from an interaction with a voxel being read, a relative change is detected by comparing the probe light beam against an orthogonally-polarized reference light beam that propagates over an overlapping path with the probe light beam. The overlapping paths for the probe and reference light beams provide that each is subject to substantially the same impairments during propagation through the medium. The overlap largely cancels the effects of light scattering and impairments from the other voxels in the medium that cause shifts in phase and/or polarization which would otherwise scramble the signals to thereby reduce the accuracy and reliability of the reading process.