| abstract |
A data storage medium from which information is reproduced by scanning a surface of the medium with a probe-based tip, such as an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) tip positioned in contact therewith. The medium comprises a substrate; and a polymer recording surface within which data bit values are determined by the topographical state at the bit location. The polymer contains thermally reversible crosslinkages. The data bit value is a function of the depth of the pit at the bit location. |