Optical information recording and reading apparatus

摘要

It is an optical information recording and reading apparatus for recording and/or reading information at a high density by using a near-field light-generating device as a near-field optical head. The end surface of the core 201 of a flexible optical waveguide 103 is formed in an intermediate position in the optical waveguide 103 and in a portion fixed to the near-field optical head 104. Light for recording and reading information is spread within the clad 202. The spread light flux is reflected toward the near-field optical head 104 by a reflective surface 203 formed on the side of one end of the optical waveguide 103. The reflected light flux is collected by light-collecting structures and then is made to enter an optical minute aperture 206 formed in the near-field optical head 104. Near-field light is created near the minute aperture 206. Light scattered by the surface of the recording medium 105 is received. Thus, information on the recording medium 105 can be recorded and read.