Near-field optical head having tapered hole for guiding light beam

摘要

A near-field optical head for recording and reading-out information on and from a recording medium by utilizing near-field light produced from a very small aperture. The very small aperture is formed at an apex of a taper formed by an optical propagation member having a tip pointed toward a recording medium. A light introducing part is connected directly to the optical propagation member for propagating light along an optical path extending in a direction generally parallel to the recording medium. The optical propagation member is formed of a uniform dielectric layer in the light introducing part and inside of the taper. A light reflection layer reflects light propagated through the light introducing part toward the very small aperture.

主权项

1. A near-field optical head for recording and reading-out information on and from a recording medium by utilizing near-field light produced from a very small aperture, the near-field optical head comprising:
means defining a tapered hole having an apex that forms a very small aperture configured to produce near-field light; an optical propagation member for propagating light from a light incident side thereof along an optical path to the very small aperture, the optical propagation member extending continuously from the light incident side through the very small aperture and terminating in a protrusion protruding from the very small aperture; and a light reflection layer for reflecting light propagating through the optical propagation member toward the very small aperture.