INFORMATION RECORDING MEDIUM, INFORMATION REPRODUCING DEVICE, AND INFORMATION RECORDING/REPRODUCING DEVICE

摘要

An information recording medium, an information reproducing apparatus and an information recording and reproducing apparatus capable of carrying out reproduction of information and tracking control by utilizing near-field light. Propagated light 14 is generated by making a data mark 4 formed at a light transmitting layer at an upper portion of an information recording medium 3 comprising a two layer structure of the light transmitting layer 11 and a light reflecting layer 12 and near-field light 5 generated by irradiating laser beam 8 to a very small aperture 2 of a planer probe 1 carry out interaction. The propagated light 14 passes through the light transmitting layer 11, reflected by the light reflecting layer 12, passes through the light transmitting layer 11 again and is emitted from a surface of the information recording medium 3. The propagated light 14 is received by light receiving elements 6 and 7 provided at the planer probe 1 and a reproduced signal is outputted. The propagated light 14 follows an optical path at least twice as much as a thickness of the light transmitting layer 11 and can be received as light having a sufficiently large amount. Further, the propagated light reflected by the reflecting layer is made to irradiate the information recording medium as assist light and high density recording by near-field light can be carried out.