Abstract: A head using near field light is formed, which is characterized by including a near field light assisted magnetic recording head characterized by including a pyramid tip 43 configured to generate near field light at the tip end thereof, in which magnetic recording is conducted by assistance of the near field light, a magnetic recording element 13 is formed of a first magnetic pole 16a and a second magnetic pole 16b, the first magnetic pole is formed of a first thin film on a first side surface of the tip, the second magnetic pole is formed of a second thin film on a second side surface facing to the first side surface of the tip, and the first thin film and the second thin film have different film thicknesses.

Abstract: A near field light assisted magnetic recording head 2 includes a conical tip 41 configured to generate a near field light at a distal end thereof, and a magnetic recording element configured to cause a flux reversal in a minute area on a surface of a medium by heating the minute area by the near field light. The magnetic recording element includes a main magnetic pole 32 configured to provide the medium surface with a magnetic field substantially in a vertical direction, a secondary magnetic pole 36 configured to absorb a part of the magnetic field provided from the main magnetic pole 32, and a dielectric film 35 arranged between the main magnetic pole 32 and the secondary magnetic pole 36. The conical tip 41 is provided with a minute gap 15 configured to generate the near sighted field light at the distal end opposing the surface of the medium. The main magnetic pole 32 constitutes at least part of an edge portion surrounding the minute gap 15.

Abstract: A signal detecting device includes: a semiconductor substrate; a near-field light generating section that is provided on the semiconductor substrate and generates near-field light near an interface with the semiconductor substrate; a light source that outputs light having wavelength corresponding to photon energy about a half as large as band-gap energy of a material of the semiconductor substrate; and a current detecting unit that detects a photocurrent generated in the semiconductor substrate when the near-field light is generated.

Abstract: An optical pickup includes a moving base moved in a radial direction of a disk-like recording medium mounted on a disk table, and an objective lens drive device disposed on the base and including an objective lens. The drive device includes a fixed block fixed to the base, a movable block including the lens and a lens holder and moved in focusing and tracking directions, supporting springs connecting the fixed and movable blocks, focusing magnets moving the movable block in the focusing direction, tracking magnets moving the movable block in the tracking direction and each having two magnetized poles, focusing coils facing the focusing magnets, and tracking coils facing the tracking magnets and spaced apart in the tracking direction. The north and south poles of the tracking magnet are adjacent in the tracking direction. The boundary between the poles is formed by a line segment not being one straight line.

Abstract: A flexible waveguide with an adjustable index of refraction. The core layer and/or the cladding layer of a flexible waveguide may include a plurality of nanoparticles having a different index of refraction than the core layer and/or cladding layer. The plurality of nanoparticles may have an index of refraction that is greater than or less than an index of refraction of either the core layer or the cladding layer in order that the overall effective index of refraction of either the core layer or the cladding layer can be adjusted.

Abstract: A near-field light-emitting element includes a transparent medium having a plane of incidence into which a laser beam enters, and a light-condensing plane on which the laser beam having entered the plane of incidence is concentrated, and a metal body provided on the light-condensing plane of the transparent medium having a first surface contacting the light-condensing plane, a second surface opposing the first surface, and an aperture which is formed to penetrate through the first and second surfaces at a position where the laser beam is concentrated and which emits a near-field light obtained from the laser beam. The metal body is arranged apart from a center of the aperture by a predetermined distance to connect together the first and second surfaces, and has a plasmon reflection plane that reflects toward the aperture a surface plasmon excited on the first and second surfaces by the laser beam concentrated at the aperture.

Abstract: Provided are an optical device, optically assisted magnetic recording head and optically assisted magnetic recording apparatus that effectively emit the introduced light, from the apex portion of a waveguide. The optical device includes: an optical element having a substantially parabolic outline which contains a side surface and the apex portion with a light-emitting surface; a light guiding unit for forming a light spot on the core layer; and a light introducing section provided on the core layer at the position at which the light spot is formed. The light introduced into the core layer travels substantially parallel to the axis of the parabola, and is reflected by the side surface so as to be converged at the focal point of the parabola and is then emitted from the apex portion. The position of the point where the light intensity is greatest in the light spot is deviated from the axis.

Abstract: Method for the bidirectional transmission of data between one or more textile machines (1) producing cross-wound bobbins and/or one or more same-level and/or higher level control systems with a device (2) for transmitting data to a transport medium, which is used for the transporting of data located on the transport medium, the transport medium being in operative connection with the textile machine (1) producing cross-wound bobbins to transmit data via the device (2). According to the invention, a a memory, a hard disc, a magnetic tape, a writable contact disc (CD), a writable digital versatile disc (DVD), a magneto-optical disc (MO disc), a minidisc (MD) or a digital memory card provided in a mobile telephone or a palm-top computer (personal digital assistant) are used as the transporting medium and the device (2) is integrated in an exchangeable manner in the textile machine (1).

Abstract: A magnetic artificial superlattice is composed of laminated thin films including two or more kinds of magnetic flaky particles (magnetic titania nanosheets) obtained by exfoliation of a layer titanium oxide in which Ti atoms in the lattice have been substituted with magnetic elements.

Abstract: When a semiconductor laser is arranged outside a slider and a light is to be guided to the slider through a waveguide, the following problems will be solved: the stability of the flying slider is deteriorated due to a stress from the waveguide; and when an actuator is arranged near the flying slider, the motions of the slider are hindered by the waveguide. A waveguide for guiding a light to a light irradiating unit inside a slider, which floats over a medium and has the light irradiating unit for irradiating a light to the medium; and a waveguide for propagating a light from the light source to the waveguide inside the slider, are included. The two waveguides are not in contact with each other, and a relative portion between the two waveguides is movable.

Abstract: A device providing for microstructuring a storage medium includes a radiation source for producing an at least partially coherent beam from electromagnetic radiation, a modulator provided with a plurality of individually switchable modulator elements, a beam-forming optical element for illuminating the modulator, a reducing optical element for reducing a beam radiated by the modulator, and a transport table for displacing the storage medium in relation to the reducing optical element. The device solves technical problems caused by writing of microstructuring and individual diffractive optical elements, in particular computer-generated holograms having a high speed and high writing energy. The device is achieved in that the reducing optical element is configured with limited diffraction and produces a surface reduction of at least 25 from a surface of the individually switchable modulator elements.

Abstract: An information memory device using an electromagnetic-wave resonance phenomenon is provided to achieve both high density and long-period storage of stored data. Memory cells are three-dimensionally arranged in the inside of a solid-like medium which is not contacted with a surface of the medium, and the memory cell has resonance characteristics to electromagnetic waves depending on the space coordinates of the memory cell. For the medium, a material is selected so that an electromagnetic wave having the resonance frequency of the memory cell. By observing absorption spectra of the irradiated electromagnetic wave or emission spectra after the absorption, three-dimensional space coordinates of the memory cell are calculated.

Abstract: A light-assisted magnetic head apparatus is provided. The light-assisted magnetic head apparatus includes a focusing optical system and a thin magnetic head having a main magnetic pole. The focusing optical system includes a hemispherical or hyper-hemispherical solid immersion lens. The thin-film magnetic head includes a metal layer that causes surface plasmon resonance on a light-incident side of the main magnetic pole.

Abstract: Apparatuses, a method, and a system for a non-volatile, probe-based memory device are disclosed herein. In various embodiments, probe-based memory may be one-time programmable or rewritable nonvolatile probe-based memory.

Abstract: A plurality of types of recording pulse control rules for which the recording pulse waveform is determined according to the information signals to be recorded are stored in advance in an optical disk. When recording to the optical disk, information is recorded using a recording pulse where, due to the focused laser beam, the temperature in the recording layer cools more rapidly at a second information recording layer closer to the side where light is incident than at a first information recording layer farther away from the side where light is incident.

Abstract: An electromagnetic field generating element restrains magnetic field attenuation or magnetic field delay in a high frequency recording/reproducing head for thermally assisted magnetic field recording/reproduction using a near field. An information recording/reproducing head and an information recording/reproducing apparatus carry out high frequency magnetic recording/reproduction. The electromagnetic field generating element includes: (i) a substrate, (ii) conductors each provided on the substrate and each serving as a supporting section, (iii) a plate-like-shaped conductor provided on the conductors and (iv) a semiconductor laser element provided on the substrate. The semiconductor laser element irradiates laser light to the plate-like-shaped conductor substantially parallel to an extending flat surface of the plate-like-shaped conductor. This causes generation of a near field in the plate-like-shaped conductor.

Abstract: A method of forming a conductive pattern can form a conductive pattern where the aspect ratio of the height to the width is high with favorable electrical connectivity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method, apparatus and record carrier for controlling read-out and/or synchronization between an external magnetic field and written data during a reading operation from a magneto-optical recording medium comprising a storage layer and a read-out layer. An expanded domain leading to a pulse in a reading signal is generated in said read-out layer by copying a mark region from said storage layer to said read-out layer upon heating by a radiation power and with the help of the external magnetic field. The waveform of the reading signal is analyzed, and the analyzing result is used for correcting a phase deviation and/or for controlling a copy window size of the mark copying. Thereby, phase errors can be corrected for any size of the copy window. Even small changes in the copy window can be detected and corrected.

Abstract: Multiple recording and simultaneous regeneration are performed using a storage medium comprising phase pits and a recording layer so that ROM and RAM can be regenerated simultaneously. When data is recorded to RAM while regenerating ROM using the concurrent ROM/RAM recording medium, the start and the end of recording to RAM is controlled using the recording start and recording end signals of the ROM. Therefore the content recording position of the RAM with respect to the content of ROM can be equalized, the delay can be controlled, and the virtual session function and the multiple recording function can be easily implemented at low cost.

Abstract: A thermally assisted magnetic head has a medium-facing surface facing a magnetic recording medium; a near-field light generator disposed on a light exit face in the medium-facing surface; a magnetic recording element located adjacent to the near-field light generator; and a light emitting element disposed so that emitted light thereof reaches the near-field light generator; the near-field light generator is comprised of a cusp portion and a base portion; when ?in represents a wavelength of the emitted light from the light emitting element immediately before the emitted light reaches the near-field light generator, an intensity of near-field light generated when the material forming the cusp portion is irradiated with the light of the wavelength ?in is stronger than an intensity of near-field light generated when the material forming the base portion is irradiated with the light of the wavelength ?in.

Abstract: A transfer apparatus comprises: a master carrier on which a minute concave-convex shape is formed; a slave medium to which the concave-convex shape or transfer information expressed by the concave-convex shape is to be transferred; and a holder which holds the slave medium and to which the master carrier is fixed. In the transfer apparatus, the positioning of the master carrier and the slave medium is precisely performed, and the work for supplying the master carrier may be simplified. As a result, it is possible to perform the transfer operation with high efficiency and excellent productivity.

Abstract: A recording medium drive apparatus is disclosed. The recording medium drive apparatus includes a holding mechanism, a data recording means, and a printing means. The holding mechanism holds a recording medium having a print target surface targeted for printing and an optical recording surface for data. The data recording means is capable of recording the data on the optical recording surface held by the holding mechanism. The printing means is capable of performing printing on the print target surface of the recording medium and applying a correction fluid on the print target surface.

Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic recording head and a recording apparatus including the same are provided. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head includes a recording portion which produces magnetic field for recording information to a magnetic recording medium, and a waveguide which transmits light therethrough disposed to be adjacent to the recording portion and which emits the light toward the magnetic recording medium, wherein the waveguide comprises a light incident surface; a tapered portion having progressively narrower sections along the transmission direction of the light incident on the light incident surface and entering the waveguide; and a light-emitting surface which emits the light after the light is transmitted through the tapered portion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling read-out and/or synchronization between an external magnetic field and written data during a reading operation from a magneto-optical recording medium includes generating a pulse in a reading signal in a read-out layer by copying a mark region from a storage layer to the read-out layer upon heating by a radiation power and with the aid of the external magnetic field. The waveform of the reading signal is analyzed, and the analysis result is used for correcting a phase deviation and/or for controlling a copy window size of the mark copying. Phase errors may thus be corrected for any size of the copy window. Even small changes in the copy window can be detected and corrected.

Abstract: It is an objective that the optical loss and the number of optical components are reduced in an optical recording head using a near-field where a laser beam is guided from a light source to the tip of the head and a thermally assisted magnetic recording head. A structure where the traveling direction of emitted beam is rotated in the direction of the cavity of the laser diode element and a reflector for guiding the beam to the surface of the surface of the laser diode element is monolithically integrated in the laser diode element is mounted over the slider so that the direction of the cavity of the laser diode element is parallel to the surface of the recording medium, and the substrate side of the laser diode element is mounted to be in the direction opposite the face adjacent to the upper face of the slider.

Abstract: A Method of Manufacturing an Integrated Magneto-Optical Element for use in a Digital Magneto-Optical Signal write/Read Head and an Integrated Magneto-Optical Element Manufactured According to the Method A method of manufacturing an integrated magneto-optical element for use in a digital magneto-optical signal read/write head, in which the manufacturing techniques of thin film coils are combined with lens-making techniques to realise a high performance, reliable and cost-effective lens-MFM coil combination for use in a slider having an air bearing surface for “flying” just above a surface of a storage medium (102) during operation. The method comprises two principal steps: Step I is to make an MFM coil (106) by means of a thin film technique, and Step 2 is to make an objective lens (114) on top of the transparent (e.g. glass) plate (109) in which the MFM coil (106) is located.

Abstract: [Problem] An optical pickup that can incline an objective lens in the same direction as that of a bend of an optical disc is provided. [Means of solving the Problem] The optical pickup includes a lens holder that holds an objective lens, focusing coils attached to the lens holder, a yoke to which magnets are attached, and inner yokes disposed opposite to the magnets via the focusing coils, and the optical pickup is structured so that a cross-sectional area of the inner yoke disposed toward the outer periphery of the optical disc is greater than a cross-sectional area of the inner yoke disposed on the inner periphery of the optical disc.

Abstract: To realize an electromagnetic field generating element, an information recording and reproducing head and an information recording and reproducing device for high frequency magnetic recording and reproducing by the optically assisted magnetic recording and reproduction using near field, which permit attenuation or delay of a magnetic field to be suppressed, the electromagnetic field generating element of the present invention generates a magnetic field in a direction parallel to the surface of a constricting section by supplying current in the conductive member, and applying a laser beam from the side of the substrate to the constricting section, and a surface plasmon is excited by an magnetic field vector vertical to the surface of the constricting section, thereby generating near field from the surface facing the interface between the substrate and the constricting section.

Abstract: A light-plasmon coupling lens including an optically transparent substrate having a light incident surface and a light-plasmon coupling surface opposite the light incident surface. The light-plasmon coupling surface including at least a set of circular concentric peaks/valleys which form a Fourier sinusoidal pattern in the radial direction of the circular concentric peaks/valleys. A conformal layer of metal is deposited on the light-plasmon coupling surface of the substrate and has aperture at the center of thereof through which plasmons are transmitted. An optical recording medium including a light-plasmon coupling lens.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with the adsorption of chiral molecules at surfaces or interfaces, with the arrangement and properties of adsorbed chiral molecules, and with devices and methods based thereupon. In particular, an apparatus allows the influence of the magnetic environment of the adsorbed chiral molecules by means of a magnetic field. The new observed orientation of the adsorbed chiral molecules caused by the chiro-magnetic effect, and the possible applications, are disclosed too.

Abstract: A moved distance detecting means (15) detects the moved distance in a tracking direction of an object lens, a position signal generating means (60) generates a position signal corresponding to the position of the object lens based on the detection, and a drive signal modulating means (40) modulates the drive current of a magnetic head (20) according to this position signal. Therefore, a drive current can be controlled according to the moved distance of the object lens to enable the magnetic head to be driven with a small current when a moved distance is small and with a large current according to a moved distance only when it is large, whereby it is possible to reduce an average drive current and hence reduce power consumption as a whole.

Abstract: A magneto-optic head includes a magnetic layer formed to have a substantially stabilized magnetic domain configuration. The magnetic layer includes a set of magnetic domains that includes one or more magnetic domains that are oriented such that they are substantially parallel to a major axis of the magnetic layer. In exemplary embodiments, the magnetic layer is deposited over a non-magnetic substrate and patterned, e.g., etched, in such a way that ordered magnetic domains form within the magnetic layer. For example, the magnetic layer may be patterned to have a height and width-to-height aspect ratio that yields one or more magnetic domains that are oriented such that they are substantially parallel to a major axis of the magnetic layer. In some embodiments, two magnetic layers are antiferromagnetically exchange coupled such that each magnetic layer includes a magnetic domain that is oriented substantially parallel to the major axis of that magnetic layer.

Abstract: A magnetic recording apparatus comprises a magnetic field impression unit, a current supplying unit and a controlling unit t. The magnetic field impression unit impresses a magnetic field to a magnetic recording medium. The current supplying unit supplies a current to the magnetic recording medium. The controlling unit makes the current supplying unit supply the current to the magnetic recording medium while making the magnetic field impression unit impress the magnetic field to at least a unit of a magnetic recording unit of the magnetic recording medium. Thus, a information is recorded magnetically by making a direction of a magnetization of the magnetic recording unit of the magnetic recording medium in a predetermined direction.

Abstract: A recording and reproducing apparatus including a recording magnetic head and a reproducing magnetic head with their floating height lowered for high density recordation and reproduction is provided. An information recording medium is provided on which it is possible to densely record information and from which it is possible to densely reproduce information by lowering the floating height of the recording and reproducing heads. The information recording medium includes a flat substrate and a recording layer provided on the substrate. Servo patterns and management information are recorded as magnetic marks on the recording layer in advance by a servo writer or the like. Because the substrate needs no recessed and embossed patterns formed in it, the slider of the recording and reproducing apparatus can be floated at a constant floating height lower than conventionally over the whole area of the medium.

Abstract: A magnetic pattern forming apparatus, which is designed to form a desired magnetic pattern on a magnetic disk having a magnetic layer on a substrate, is made up of a mask having a pattern identical or similar to the desired magnetic pattern, a projection optical system for exposing the magnetic disk to a spot-like energy beam coming through the mask to heat the magnetic layer for projecting the mask pattern to the magnetic disk at a one-to-one ratio or a predetermined reduction ratio, a magnetic field applying device for applying an external magnetic field to the magnetic disk, a control unit for conducting scanning with the spot-like energy beam with respect to the magnetic disk and the mask in their radial directions while rotating the magnetic disk and the mask.

Abstract: A DVD playback apparatus accurately discriminates a hybrid disc, to prevent a recordable CD installed therein from being damaged by a laser beam for a DVD/MMCD. The hybrid disc includes a label printed surface formed on a substrate, a CD recording surface formed below the label printed surface, having identification information expressing a disc type, and a DVD recording surface formed below the CD recording surface. The DVD playback apparatus irradiates a CD laser beam on an optical disk installed therein. If data is readable from the optical disc, it is checked whether the identification information is recorded in the predetermined recording area. The DVD playback apparatus recognizes the optical disc as the hybrid disc, if the identification information is recorded in the predetermined recording area.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium comprises an information-recording film and a ferromagnetic film on a substrate. The information-recording film is composed of, for example, an amorphous ferrimagnetic material having perpendicular magnetization. Further, the ferromagnetic film is composed of a magnetic material which has saturation magnetization larger than that of the information-recording film. Accordingly, the leak magnetic flux from the ferromagnetic film is larger than that from the information-recording film. The magnetic recording medium and a magnetic recording apparatus are obtained, which are excellent in thermal stability and which are preferred to perform super high density recording.

Abstract: A magnetooptic element whose size is essentially that of a lattice, namely several angstroms in size of magnetic material and which at the same time has its exhibiting magnetooptic effect detectable is provided along with a magnetooptic disk, a memory device and a magnetooptical picture or image display with a storage capacity of several terabits per square inch or more, each using such a magnetooptic element. The magnetooptic element utilizes a gigantic effective magnetic filed based on a spin chirality formed by geometrically configuring the spin orientation and crystallographic structure of a certain solid material.

Abstract: A moved distance detecting means (15) detects the moved distance in a tracking direction of an object lens, a position signal generating means (60) generates a position signal corresponding to the position of the object lens based on the detection, and a drive signal modulating means (40) modulates the drive current of a magnetic head (20) according to this position signal. Therefore, a drive current can be controlled according to the moved distance of the object lens to enable the magnetic head to be driven with a small current when a moved distance is small and with a large current according to a moved distance only when it is large, whereby it is possible to reduce an average drive current and hence reduce power consumption as a whole.

Abstract: A method for forming a magnetic pattern in a magnetic recording medium, which includes irradiating energy beams to a magnetic recording medium having a magnetic layer on a substrate via a photomask having a transmitting portion and a nontransmitting portion to heat locally an irradiated portion of the magnetic layer. The method also includes applying an external magnetic field to the magnetic layer. The transmitting portion and the non-transmitting portion of the photomask each has a reflectivity of energy beam of 30% or less in at least one surface facing the magnetic recording medium. By using techniques of heating a local portion and applying an external magnetic field in combination, a fine magnetic pattern can be effectively and accurately formed while the production of an interference fringe is suppressed.

Abstract: A favorable magnetic transfer is performed to a perpendicular magnetic recording medium. A master medium is provided with a substrate on the surface of which protrusion portions, which form a pattern corresponding to the data that is to be transferred, having a pliable layer thereon have been formed. The master medium is further provided with a soft magnetic layer formed in the depression portions between the protrusion portions, and which is magnetically linked to the soft magnetic layer of the protrusion portions. The soft magnetic layer of the surface of the protrusion portions is conjoined with the magnetic recording layer of a perpendicular magnetic recording medium to form a conjoined body, and a transfer magnetic field is applied to the conjoined body in the direction from the substrate of the master medium toward the slave medium to perform the magnetic transfer.

Abstract: A hybrid magnetic-optical head apparatus wherein one or more solid state lasers, magnetic field biasing elements, magnetic sensing elements, and an aerodynamically shaped slider comprise a single integrated, monolithic device fabricated from the same base semiconductor material into an optical head. The monolithic optical head can be quickly and easily attached to the read arm of an optical read/write device without requiring attachment of separate laser and magnetic elements, and without micropositioning or use of optical microscopy for positioning the lasers or magnetic elements. The hybrid magnetic-optical head apparatus includes a magnetic-optical function region having a semiconductor laser and at least one magnetic element. Preferably, the magnetic-optical function region of the substrate includes a magnetic field biasing element associated with the semiconductor laser, as well as a magnetic sensing element.

Abstract: To realize an electromagnetic field generating element, an information recording and reproducing head and an information recording and reproducing device for high frequency magnetic recording and reproducing by the optically assisted magnetic recording and reproduction using near field, which permit attenuation or delay of a magnetic field to be suppressed, the electromagnetic field generating element of the present invention generates a magnetic field in a direction parallel to the surface of a constricting section by supplying current in the conductive member, and applying a laser beam from the side of the substrate to the constricting section, and a surface plasmon is excited by an magnetic field vector vertical to the surface of the constricting section, thereby generating near field from the surface facing the interface between the substrate and the constricting section.

Abstract: A magneto-optical recording medium comprising four magnetic layers including a mask layer, a reproduction layer, an intermediate layer and a recording layer, wherein the reproduction layer and the recording layer each have a direction of easy magnetization extending in a layer stacking direction at room temperature, the mask layer and the intermediate layer each have a direction of easy magnetization extending in an in-plane direction at room temperature, the mask layer, the reproduction layer, the intermediate layer and the recording layer have Curie temperatures Tc1, Tc2, Tc3 and Tc4, respectively, which satisfy relationships of Tc3<Tc2, Tc3<Tc4 and Tc3<Tc1, and the intermediate layer is a rare-earth-rich magnetic layer.

Abstract: A storage system comprising a magneto resistance sensor for reading and writing information to a storage disk is provided. The storage disk is comprised of multi-layer media or optically assisted media. The storage disk includes an overcoat and lubricant disposed on a top surface of the media.

Abstract: An optical recording medium in accordance with the present invention is provided with a substrate, a mask layer, provided on the substrate, whose index of refraction changes due to light or heat of the substrate, and a recording layer that is provided away from the mask layer by a distance that is not more than a distance which allows the near-field light to reach. The mask layer generates a minute opaque region in a light spot and the recording layer is a magneto-optical layer. An optical recording and reproduction apparatus in accordance with the present invention uses the optical recording medium. This allows to provide an optical recording medium and an optical recording and reproduction apparatus that can suppress the erasure of recorded marks and carry out the reproduction again and again.

Abstract: An optical disk has a magnetic recording medium and/or magnetic playback medium. The magnetic substance carrying recording data is formed on the label side of the optical disk. The magnetic substance is formed as a pattern of a desired shape by silk screen printing using an ink containing a magnetic substance.

Abstract: A device for writing data to a recording medium and a method for fabricating the device is presented. According to one embodiment, the device includes an electrical conductor having a cross-track portion, wherein the cross-track portion includes first and second opposing surfaces, and wherein the cross-track portion defines an aperture extending from the first surface to the second surface. The device also includes a dielectric portion disposed in the aperture such that the dielectric portion defines a ridge waveguide having a lowest-order mode cut-off frequency that is less than the frequency of incident optical energy used to heat the recording medium.

Abstract: A recording head for use in conjunction with a magnetic storage medium, comprises a waveguide for providing a path for transmitting radiant energy, a near-field coupling structure positioned in the waveguide and including a plurality of arms, each having a planar section and a bent section, wherein the planar sections are substantially parallel to a surface of the magnetic storage medium, and the bent sections extend toward the magnetic storage medium and are separated to form a gap adjacent to an air bearing surface, and applying a magnetic write field to sections of the magnetic recording medium heated by the radiant energy. A disc drive including the recording head and a method of recording data using the recording head are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cleaning disk and a magneto-optical disk drive apparatus being simple in structure, adaptable to cleaning disks having various specifications, low in power consumption, low in electromagnetic noise, and preventing damage to the magnetic head and the optical head; the cleaning disk comprises a magneto-optical disk having an information layer, and a head-cleaning member, provided on the magneto-optical disk, for cleaning the magnetic head of the magneto-optical disk drive apparatus, wherein information regarding a magnetic head cleaning condition for setting the operation condition of the magneto-optical disk drive apparatus during cleaning of the magnetic head has been recorded in advance on the information layer of the magneto-optical disk. The magneto-optical disk drive apparatus reads the information regarding the magnetic head cleaning condition so as to set the operation condition properly.