POLARIZATION COMPONENT DETECTOR

摘要

PURPOSE: To miniaturize a magneto-optical recording medium reproducing device by arranging a polarization rotation distribution converting means for changing the distribution of the polarization direction of the divergent and convergent light transmitted as to cancel the polarization rotation distribution by an optical means for the divergent and convergent light onto the optical path for the divergent and convergent light. CONSTITUTION: A phase plate 51 is arranged in the position behind a polarization beam splitter 4 on the optical path for the reflected return light L2 from a magneto-optical disk 7. The deflection angle θ of the optical axis K50 of the phase plate 51 is selected so that the rationally polarized light generated in the reflected return light L2 is cancelled by the transmission of the reflected return light L2 through a polarization beam splitter 4 within the plane formed by the optical axis of the incident reflected return light L2 and the polarization plane 4A of the polarization beam splitter 4. Then, an optical pickup 50 of an S separation type capable of making the reflected return light L2 free from the influence of the polarization rotation by the polarizing film 4A of the polarization beam splitter 4 incident on the photodetecting surface of a photodetector 10 and producing exact MO signals is obtd.