US Patent 7570567 Multi-layered holographic read-only memory and data retrieval method

An inexpensive multi-layered holographic read-only memory having a large capacity is provided. In the memory in which single-mode slab waveguides are multi-layered, a periodic scattering center whose period approximately agrees with the period of the guided mode is provided in at least one of a core layer and a clad layer in each waveguide so that a guided wave in the waveguide is diffracted by the periodic scattering center to the outside of the waveguide and a holographic image is generated.