Optical data storage represents a major chapter in the history of information storage and the invention of rewritable media has indisputably been an essential addition to the optical storage family. With the multiple overwrite feature, rewritable optical discs have found application in consumer DVD+RW video recorders, professional archiving systems and computer drives for data storage, replacing the floppy disc in the latter case. Optical Data Storage provides an overview of the recording principles, materials aspects, and application areas of phase-change optical storage. Some theoretical background is given to familiarize the reader with the basics of the phase-change processes. Elements of data recording, including mark formation, eraseability, direct overwrite strategies, data quality and data stability, etc are explained and extensively discussed. A mark formation model is described and used throughout the whole book to back-up measurement results and support the discussed applications. Two major aspects a " high-speed and dual-layer recording a " are considered in depth and solutions to achieve higher performance are analyzed. Optical Data Storage is aimed at a broad range of readers a " from university teams studying the subject to industrial media manufacturers requiring insights into performance of rewritable optical media.