Abstract: An example magnetoresistive effect element includes a magnetoresistive effect film including a magnetization pinned layer, a magnetization free layer, and an intermediate layer interposed therebetween and having a magnetic region and a nonmagnetic region whose electrical resistance is higher than the magnetic region. A sense current is passed to the magnetoresistive effect film in a direction substantially perpendicular to the film plane thereof. The magnetic region of the intermediate layer penetrates the nonmagnetic region locally and extends in the direction substantially perpendicular to the film plane. The nonmagnetic region contains a nonmagnetic metallic element having a larger surface energy than a magnetic metallic element contained in the magnetic region.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive effect element, includes: a magnetoresistive effect film including: a magnetization fixed layer having a first ferromagnetic film of which magnetization direction is practically fixed in one direction; a magnetization free layer having a second ferromagnetic film of which magnetization direction changes with corresponding to an external magnetic field; and a spacer layer disposed between the magnetization fixed layer and magnetization free layer, and having an insulating layer and a ferromagnetic metal portion penetrating through the insulating layer; a pair of electrodes applying a sense current in a perpendicular direction relative to a film surface of the magnetoresistive effect film; and a layer containing a non-ferromagnetic element disposed at least one of an inside of the magnetization fixed layer-and an inside of the magnetization free layer.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive effect element includes a magnetoresistive effect film including a magnetization pinned layer, a magnetization free layer, and an intermediate layer interposed therebetween and having a magnetic region and a nonmagnetic region whose electrical resistance is higher than the magnetic region. A sense current is passed to the magnetoresistive effect film in a direction substantially perpendicular to the film plane thereof. The magnetic region of the intermediate layer penetrates the nonmagnetic region locally and extends in the direction substantially perpendicular to the film plane. The nonmagnetic region contains a nonmagnetic metallic element having a larger surface energy than a magnetic metallic element contained in the magnetic region.

Abstract: The light source unit includes a single wavelength oscillation light source, a light generating portion which has an optical modulator converting and emitting light from the light source into a pulse light, a light amplifying portion made up of an optical fiber group in which each fiber has a fiber amplifier to amplify the pulse light from the optical modulator, and a light amount controller. The light amount controller performs a step-by-step light amount control by individually turning on/off the light output of each fiber making up the optical fiber group, and a light amount control of controlling at least either of the frequency or the peak power of the emitted pulse light of the optical modulator.

Abstract: In an optical amplifying section that includes a specific amplifying medium that may be effected by a giant pulse, light subject to amplifying is continuously incoming, while exciting light is continuously supplied. Therefore, in the specific amplifying medium, the giant pulse is not generated, which allows continuous amplified light to be emitted stably from the specific amplifying medium. Meanwhile, of the light outgoing from the optical amplifying section, a light quantity controlling section controls the light quantity of light proceeding a predetermined optical path to a wavelength conversion section, which controls the light quantity of light outgoing from wavelength conversion section as outgoing light of the light source unit. As a consequence, light with high luminance whose wavelength has been converted can be stably emitted.

Abstract: In an optical amplifying section that includes a specific amplifying medium that may be effected by a giant pulse, light subject to amplifying is continuously incoming, while exciting light is continuously supplied. Therefore, in the specific amplifying medium, the giant pulse is not generated, which allows continuous amplified light to be emitted stably from the specific amplifying medium. Meanwhile, of the light outgoing from the optical amplifying section, a light quantity controlling section controls the light quantity of light proceeding a predetermined optical path to a wavelength conversion section, which controls the light quantity of light outgoing from wavelength conversion section as outgoing light of the light source unit. As a consequence, light with high luminance whose wavelength has been converted can be stably emitted.

Abstract: The light source unit (16) comprises a single wavelength oscillation light source (160A), a light generating portion (160) which has an optical modulator (160C) converting and emitting light from the light source into a pulse light, a light amplifying portion (161) made up of an optical fiber group that each has a fiber amplifier to amplify the pulse light from the optical modulator, and a light amount controller (16C). The light amount controller (16C) performs a step-by-step light amount control by individually turning on/off the light output of each fiber making up the optical fiber group, and a light amount control of controlling at least either of the frequency or the peak power of the emitted pulse light of the optical modulator.

Abstract: An optical waveguide device formed by a material showing anisotropy for refraction index and an optical instrument using the same device. The device comprises an electro-optic single crystal substrate on which are formed a first core portion higher in refractive index than the substrate with respect to both ordinary and extraordinary rays and a second core portion higher in refractive index than the substrate with respect to extraordinary rays pnly whereby the first core portion forms a single-moded waveguide for ordinary rays, and the overlapping region of the first and second core portions forms a double-moded waveguide for extraordinary rays. This optical waveguide device is used in place of a pinhole elementin an optical system of a confocal scanning optical microscopeso as to guide illuminating light to an object to be detected and to guide the reflected light from the object into a detector.

Abstract: A first region diffused with a first diffusion material containing at least one element and a second region diffused with a second diffusion material containing at least another element are formed in a substrate. At least part of the second region overlaps part of the first region. A region of the first region which does not overlap the second region has a refractive index higher than that of a region where the first region overlaps the second region and that of the substrate. The region of the first region which does not overlap the second region serves as a core for propagating a light beam. The region where the first region overlaps the second region and the region of the substrate not diffused with the first and second diffusion materials serve as a clad.

Abstract: A device comprises five wave guides and two interposed TE-TM mode splitters, formed on a substrate. A first mode splitter splits a first wave guide into second and third wave guides, and a second mode splitter splits a third wave guide into fourth and fifth wave guides. A light beam directed to the first wave guide through the second wave guide is radiated to a magneto-optical recording medium. A signal light beam carrying the information recorded on the medium, reflected by the medium, is directed to the third wave guide through the first mode splitter, and the polarization plane of the signal light beam is rotated by a polarization plane rotation device. The signal light beam is further split by the second mode splitter and directed to the fourth and fifth wave guides, thence to external detectors.

Abstract: An optical waveguide device for polarization rotation comprises a substrate, a waveguide path arranged on the substrate, a mode converting element arranged at an intermediate region of the waveguide path, and a polarization rotating element arranged at a location in the waveguide path between a place where light is incident and the mode converting element. The mode converting element includes a phase shifter for relatively shifting a phase between TE and TM components of light transmitted through the waveguide path, in response to an applied voltage, and also includes a mode converter for converting modes between the TE and TM components. The polarization rotating element rotates a polarization plane of the light transmitted through the waveguide path by (90+180 .times.n) degrees, where n is zero or an integer.

Abstract: An optical integrated device for a reproducing head for a magneto-optical record includes two devices formed on separate substrates. A first device includes a polarization detecting optical system, and a second device includes a polarized light source and photoelectric conversion means. The optical integrated device further includes link means for linking the first and second devices in proximate or close contact.