Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for writing data on a track in an optical disk data storage device wherein the track is divided into two parts and binary one bits are written into one part of the data track while binary zero bits are written into the second part of the data track. Detection of data written in this manner is performed using two read coherent radiation beams each positioned over one of the parts of the data track. A binary one is detected if the signal from the beam over the first part of the data track is greater than the signal from the beam over the second part of the data track, and a binary zero is indicated if the signal from the beam over the second part of the data track is greater than the signal of the beam over the first part of the data track. In order to detect the data from the two read beams, they must be aligned accurately over the two halves of the data track. To aid this alignment, a third larger beam is used to measure the total energy from the data track.