Abstract: An optical switch, in which focal position of beams is adjusted to provide a high switching efficiency and a high stability in action without increasing a light source output of a control light, comprising a condensing means for making a signal light and a control light convergent and incident upon a nonlinear optical thin-film and wherein irradiation of the control light causes a change of the nonlinear optical thin-film in refractive index to thereby change the signal light into a transmitted light or a reflected light to take out the same as an output signal.

Abstract: An electrode device for an electric field emission electron source suitable for duty drive having an element size of 50 &mgr;m or smaller and an electrode device fabricating method. A glass film used as catalyst of forming carbon nanotubes is formed on a substrate to form metal catalyst at nano meter level and control dispersion. Carbon nanotubes are dispersively formed on the metal catalyst and a metal coat is formed on the surface of carbon nanotubes to improve electric pulse response characteristics.

Abstract: A non-linear optical material comprising crystal grains of an oxide having a corundum type crystal structure, and amorphous portions in the surroundings of the crystal grains, in a thin film, is disclosed. The non-linear optical thin film has such a property that its refractive index varies largely when energy is applied thereto. Since the material shows little loss of light transmitted therethrough, it is possible, by use of the material, to provide a non-linear optical device for efficiently changing over the emission path of a light signal or turning-ON/OFF the light signal.

Abstract: An amorphous magnetic recording medium comprising a substrate and an amorphous magnetic layer, where a magnetic domain formation-controlling layer comprising a main phase and 1 to 3 kinds of discrete spherical isolating phases arranged horizontally in lines in the main phase or 1 to 3 kinds of discrete spherical phases vertically stacked one upon another in the main phase is formed on the top side or the bottom side directly or through at least one of other layers to bring the amorphous magnetic layer into a finer magnetic domain structure, can satisfy high density recording.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical switch that consumes a less power, excels in a high-speed response, and possesses a structure suitable for a miniaturization and multi-channel switching. The optical switch switches a plurality of input signals to a plurality of output positions, in which a laminated structure that has a nonlinear optical layer and a buffer layer laminated in the same number as that of input parts intersects an optical path between the input parts and output parts. By providing the laminated structure using the nonlinear optical thin films, the invention achieves a small matrix optical switch excellent in a high-speed response and suitable for switching a large-capacity of information.

Abstract: An optical switch includes at least one light-receiving core for receiving an optical signal, a plurality of light-emitting cores which are used selectively for emitting the optical signal, and a plurality of waveguides connecting the light-receiving core and the plurality of light-emitting cores. A nonlinear optical element which, when pumped, changes its refractive index by 2% or above relative to the surroundings to control a traveling direction of the optical signal is disposed near at least one of the plurality of waveguides.

Abstract: An electrode device for an electric field emission electron source suitable for duty drive having an element size of 50 &mgr;m or smaller and an electrode device fabricating method. A glass film used as catalyst of forming carbon nanotubes is formed on a substrate to form metal catalyst at nano meter level and control dispersion. Carbon nanotubes are dispersively formed on the metal catalyst and a metal coat is formed on the surface of carbon nanotubes to improve electric pulse response characteristics.

Abstract: An amorphous magnetic recording medium comprising a substrate and an amorphous magnetic layer, where a magnetic domain formation-controlling layer comprising a main phase and 1 to 3 kinds of discrete spherical isolating phases arranged horizontally in lines in the main phase or 1 to 3 kinds of discrete spherical phases vertically stacked one upon another in the main phase is formed on the top side or the bottom side directly or through at least one of other layers to bring the amorphous magnetic layer into a finer magnetic domain structure, can satisfy high density recording.