METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR READING FROM A NEAR-FIELD OPTICAL RECORDING MEDIUM, AND NEAR-FIELD LENS FOR THE APPARATUS

摘要

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus (1) for reading from a near-field optical recording medium. The apparatus (1) includes: - an optical system (2, 33) for generating a signal beam (3') and a reference beam (3"); - a near-field lens (9b) for illuminating the signal beam (3') onto the near-field optical recording medium (10), for collimating a reflected signal beam (40), and for reflecting the reference beam (3"); and - at least a first detector (25-1) and a second detector (45-1) for obtaining a homodyne detection signal from the reflected signal beam (40) and the reflected reference beam (3").