Laser reading digital pits on a CD / DVD
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Laser reading digital pits on a CD / DVD
Computer artwork showing light emitted by a laser diode being focussed onto a compact disc by a small lens. The metal disc underneath is etched by a laser beam to produce the microscopic pits which carry the digital code representing sounds. The code is read by a laser reflecting the pits of the etched surface back through the lens onto a sensor in a CD player which converts the signal back into music. To reflect the laser light, the music layer is coated with a fine film of metal which follows the depressions exactly. Each depression is either long or short, each representing a bit. Eight bits form a byte. CDs can hold millions of bytes of data. DVDs can hold billions of bytes of data. The data track is about 0.5 micrometres wide, and is several kilometres long
Science Photo Library features Science and Medical images including photos and illustrations
Media ID 6315783
© DAVID PARKER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
Audio Compact Disc Digital Diode Drive Electrical Electronics Laser Lens Mechanism Metal Microscopic Music Optical Optics Player Sensor Signal Sounds Technical
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print showcases the intricate process of laser reading digital pits on a CD/DVD. The computer artwork beautifully illustrates how a laser diode emits light, which is then precisely focused onto a compact disc by a small lens. Underneath the disc, a laser beam etches microscopic pits that carry the digital code representing sounds. To decode this code and convert it back into music, another laser reflects off the etched surface and passes through the lens onto a sensor in a CD player. This sensor effectively translates the reflected signal into audible melodies. To facilitate this reflection, the music layer of the CD is coated with an impeccably thin film of metal that perfectly follows each depression on its surface. Each depression represents either a long or short bit, with eight bits forming one byte. Remarkably, CDs can hold millions of bytes worth of data while DVDs have an even more impressive capacity to store billions of bytes. The data track responsible for storing all this information measures about 0.5 micrometers wide and extends several kilometers in length! This remarkable fusion of electrical and optical technology exemplifies how advancements in physics and electronics have revolutionized our ability to enjoy high-quality audio through these compact discs.
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