Congruent state changeable optical memory material and device.

摘要

A state changeable memory alloy and device employing same. The memory alloy is capable of changing from a first state to a second state in response to the input of energy, such as projected optical beam energy, electrical energy or thermal energy. The alloy has a first detectable characteristic when in the first state and a second detectable characteristic when in the second state. It is further characterized in that the first state comprises a single phase, and the second state comprises either: (1) a single phase having the same composition as the first phase or (2) a plurality of phases which have substantially similar crystallization temperatures and kinetics.