Abstract: This paper deals with the development of an ultra dense data storage concept code named “MILLIPEDE”, developed by IBM, based on the model of an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) which can be seen as the Nanotech equivalent of the primitive punch card technology. With this new technique, nanometer-sized bit indentations (30-40nm) and similar pitch sizes have been made by high resonant frequency cantilevers/tips on a very thin polymethylmethacrylate layer (PMMA), which is typically 40-50nm thick by heating the tips to high temperature (450°C), resulting in data storage densities of up to 1 Tb/in2. High data rates are achieved by massive parallel operation of large two-dimensional (2-D) atomic force microscope (AFM) arrays that have been batch-fabricated by silicon surface-micromachining techniques. A detailed discussion on potential of the data storage in the novel technique has been discussed with respect to the data write, read and erase techniques using time multiplexed electronics and thermal sensing. The all-crucial nanoscale fabrication considerations of Millipede are also being highlighted.

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