| 摘要 |
<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a near-field light generating element capable of avoiding excessive temperature rise of a near-field light generating part. Ž<P>SOLUTION: This near-field light generating element includes: a waveguide for propagating light for near-field light generation, and a near-field light generating layer with a propagation surface on which surface plasmon excited by the light propagates, A portion of the side surface of the waveguide is opposed to a portion of the propagation surface of the near-field light generating layer with a predetermined spacing so that the light propagating through the waveguide is coupled with the near-field light generating layer in a surface plasmon mode. One end of the propagation surface is a near-field light generating end generating near-field light. In this constitution, light propagating through the waveguide is coupled to the near-field light generating layer in the surface plasmon mode, near-field light is generated from the near-field light generating end when an excited surface plasmon propagates on the propagation surface. Thus, light is not irradiated directly to the near-field light generating part, thereby preventing excessive temperature rise of the near-field light generating layer. Ž<P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT Ž
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