Near-field optical apparatus with a laser having a non-uniform e

Details Near-field optical apparatus with a laser having a non-uniform e Near-field optical apparatus with a laser having a non-uniform e

1995-09-06

1997-04-29

Epps, Georgia Y.

Dynamic information storage or retrieval

Specific detail of information handling portion of system

Radiation beam modification of or by storage medium

369122, 369 4412, 369126, 250306, 250216, 372 43, G11B 700

Patent

active

056256175

ABSTRACT:
Near-field optical apparatus according to the invention contains a novel semiconductor laser photon source. The source is capable of providing substantially higher photon flux than prior art near field sources, potentially facilitating read-out rates in the megahertz range in exemplary near-field data storage and retrieval apparatus. The novel source comprises a non-uniform laser emission face, with the emission face configured such that at least 50% of the total radiation emission is from a small (first) region of the emission face, of width less than .lambda..sub.s /2, where .lambda..sub.s is the emission wavelength of the laser. In an exemplary embodiment, a multilayer coating is provided on the emission face, such that radiation emission from the face is relatively low. A recess is formed in the coating such that substantial radiation emission from the recess occurs. The recess constitutes the first region. Exemplarily, the coating comprises at least one dielectric layer, with at least one conductor layer thereon. The recess extends through the conductor layer, and exemplarily is formed by FIB (focussed ion beam) etching. A variety of other embodiments are also disclosed, as are other applications of lasers according to the invention.

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