Abstract: A beam alignment system and method for aligning a first radiation beam with respect to a second radiation beam as these beams share a desired optical path. Beam steering means, such as a galvonometer controlled mirror, steer the alignment of the first beam as it enters the shared optical path. Detection means are employed to sense the relative alignment between the first and second beams as they travel through the shared path. This sensed alignment is compared to a desired alignment, and a position error signal is generated to indicate the error therebetween. The position error signal, in turn, is used to steer the galvonometer controlled mirror in order to force the beam alignment error between the two beams to zero.

Abstract: An optical data recording media which is optimized to yield maximum absorption of the incident recording light and to be responsive to the light incident over a relatively wide range of angles. A transparent dielectric coating is utilized in combination with a metal layer and provides maximum absorption by the metal layer of the recording light incident at various angles for both S and P polarizations. The selected coatings also yield a high contrast ratio for reflectivity at different wavelengths.