Reliability Evaluation of Optical Media for an Archival Digital Image (1)

—Study of Lifetime Evaluation on Phase Change Optical Disc—

Abstract

A test method for estimating the life expectancy of an optical media storing archival digital information has been discussed. In this report, a commercial phase change (PC) media was examined by an accelerated life test using Arrehnius method based on the effects of temperature and relative humidity, and a long-term storage test under general room condition. The life expectancy in a PC media was evaluated by measurement of byte error rate (BER). The experimental results were confirmed that life expectancy of a PC media is deemed to be sufficiently long (about 50∼100 years), and that life expectancy depends on the initial condition of recorded layer and recording condition such as recording speed.