Abstract: An information reproducing apparatus has a light source for generating linearly polarized light, a medium having linear marks disposed in overlapping relation to one another, and an optical head disposed between the light source and the medium and having a fine aperture. A polarized light control portion in the light source controls the linearly polarized light to pass through the fine aperture of the optical head to generate near-field light having a preselected polarization direction and to irradiate the linear marks of the medium with the near-field light so that the preselected polarization direction of the near-field light is orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of each of the linear marks. A detector detects light scattered by the linear mark irradiated with the near-field light.

Abstract: A wafer-retaining cushion sheet (5) has a wafer suction-adhering surface (5C) formed on a surface thereof, which adheres by suction to a semiconductor wafer (W). A wafer tray (1) is provided with a plurality of bottom openings (17) opening to the reverse side of the wafer-retaining cushion sheet (5), an air chamber (16) communicating with the bottom openings, and an air inlet (11) for supplying pressurized air into the air chamber (16) from the outside. Consequently, when pressurized air is supplied into the air chamber (16) through the air inlet (11) to increase the air pressure in the air chamber (16), the wafer-retaining cushion sheet (5) is elastically deformed into an inflated form at regions facing the bottom openings (17), thus causing separation between the semiconductor wafer (W) and at least a part of the wafer suction-adhering surface (5C) of the wafer-retaining cushion sheet (5).

Abstract: An optical microcantilever for a scanning near field microscope comprises a support section, a cantilever-shaped optical waveguide, and a light blocking wall. The optical waveguide has a free end, a fixed end fixed to the support section and terminating in a light input/output end, and a tip formed at a side of the free end of the cantilever and having a microscopic aperture at an end thereof. The light blocking wall blocks the transmission of light scattered from a region of the light input/output end in the direction of the tip of the optical waveguide.

Abstract: A near-field optical head has a main surface confronting a recording medium during use of the near-field optical head. A sharpened tip is disposed on the main surface and has an optical aperture at a front end thereof. An opaque film covers the sharpened tip and has a plastically deformed portion in the vicinity of the optical aperture. The front end of the sharpened tip projects from the plastically deformed portion of the opaque film. At least one stopper is disposed in the vicinity of the sharpened tip and has a height substantially equal to a height of the sharpened tip. At least one air-bearing surface is disposed on the main surface.

Abstract: In a recording apparatus for reproducing information recorded on a recording medium by utilizing near-field light, the recording apparatus realizes reliable information reproduction with a simple structure. Illumination light 20 is illuminated to the recording medium 10 to create near-field light on a surface of the recording medium 10. The created near-field light is scattered by a microscopic aperture 12 formed in the aperture element 11 so that scattering light (propagation light) thereof is detected to create a reproduced signal. Derived from the created reproduced light a distance control signal representative of a distance between the microscopic aperture 12 and the recording medium 10. Based on the distance control signal, the aperture element 11 is controlled in position. Due to this, the microscopic aperture 12 is brought into proximity to the recording medium 10.

Abstract: An optical microcantilever capable of reducing loss when propagating light. An optical microcantilever 10 comprises a support 1, an optical waveguide 2, a light-blocking film 3, a reflecting film 4, a pointed tip 5, a microscopic aperture 6 formed at the end of the tip 5, and a mirror 7 for reflecting propagating light H propagated from a light input/output end 8 of the optical waveguide 2 towards the microscopic aperture 6.

Abstract: An optical microcantilever capable of reducing loss when propagating light. An optical microcantilever 10 comprises a support 1, an optical waveguide 2, a light-blocking film 3, a reflecting film 4, a pointed tip 5, a microscopic aperture 6 formed at the end of the tip 5, and a mirror 7 for reflecting propagating light H propagated from a light input/output end 8 of the optical waveguide 2 towards the microscopic aperture 6.

Abstract: An optical microcantilever capable of reducing loss when propagating light. An optical microcantilever 10 comprises a support 1, an optical waveguide 2, a light-blocking film 3, a reflecting film 4, a pointed tip 5, a microscopic aperture 6 formed at the end of the tip 5, and a mirror 7 for reflecting propagating light H propagated from a light input/output end 8 of the optical waveguide 2 towards the microscopic aperture 6.

Abstract: An optical microcantilever for a scanning near field microscope has an optical waveguide for propagating light. The optical waveguide has a longitudinal axis, a light input/output end, a free end opposite to the light input/output end, and a tip formed at the free end of the cantilever and having a microscopic aperture at an end thereof. A support section has a first portion supporting the optical waveguide, a second portion and a third portion. The second portion has an optical element guide channel formed in the support section for supporting an optical element acting on light entering the optical waveguide or on light exiting from the optical waveguide and for determining a position of the optical element. The third portion is disposed between the first portion and the second portion and has a surface disposed at an angle of inclination relative to the longitudinal axis of the optical waveguide.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an information recording/reproduction device for implementing high-density information recording and reading using mutual interaction of a recording medium with near field light, and particularly to a near field optical head with a high optical efficiency and a manufacturing method thereof. This is achieved by enabling an energy propagation mechanism via a plasmon by forming a layer dispersed with metal particulate at a microscopic opening generating near field light, and therefore increase optical efficiency.

Abstract: An insulated gate transistor has a semiconductor thin film having a first main surface and a second main surface, a first gate insulating film formed on the first main surface of the semiconductor thin film, a first conductive gate formed on the first gate insulating film, first and second confronting semiconductor regions of a first conductivity type insulated from the first conductive gate and disposed in contact with the semiconductor thin film, and a third semiconductor region of a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type disposed in contact with the semiconductor thin film. A gate threshold voltage of the first conductive gate is controlled by a forward bias of the third semiconductor region with respect to one of the first and second semiconductor regions.

Abstract: In a recording apparatus for reproducing information recorded on a recording medium by utilizing near-field light, the recording apparatus realizes reliable information reproduction with a simple structure. Illumination light 20 is illuminated to the recording medium 10 to create near-field light on a surface of the recording medium 10. The created near-field light is scattered by a microscopic aperture 12 formed in the aperture element 11 so that scattering light (propagation light) thereof is detected to create a reproduced signal. Derived from the created reproduced light a distance control signal representative of a distance between the microscopic aperture 12 and the recording medium 10. Based on the distance control signal, the aperture element 11 is controlled in position. Due to this, the microscopic aperture 12 is brought into proximity to the recording medium 10.

Abstract: A near-field optical head applied for a head of an information recording/reading apparatus for realizing information recording and reading with high density recording medium at high speed and with reliability through interaction between a near-field light and a recording medium using a slider having a near-field optical probe. A slider (1) having a near-field optical probe is put into proximity to a recording medium (3). Further, a distance is reduced between a light emitting element (2) and a microscopic aperture (7). The microscopic aperture is controlled in protrusion amount from the recording medium (3) by a piezoelectric element. Due to this, the light intensity in the probe or light detecting section is increased to increase interaction with the recording medium (3). This realizes information recording and reading apparatus with high sensitivity and accuracy.

Abstract: An information recording medium comprises a read-out track having a data region forming data bits for reproduced data and a servo pattern region forming servo bits for tracking control. The servo bits have a first groove that is deep in a direction perpendicular to both a length of the read-out track and a depth of the information recording medium, and a second groove that is deep in a direction opposite to the first groove and having a depth gradually increasing along the read-out track.

Abstract: A near-field optical head has a minute structure formed in the support member for interacting with a recording medium via near-field light. An optical waveguide is provided on the support member for guiding light between a light source and the minute structure. The optical waveguide has a core, a clad and a reflective surface, the core having an end face facing the reflective surface and being spaced therefrom so that light traveling through the optical waveguide is projected from the end face of the core onto the reflective surface and is reflected by the reflective surface toward the minute structure. Information is recorded to and/or read from the recording medium based on the scattering of near-field light between the recording medium and the minute structure while the near-field optical head is positioned over the surface of the recording medium.

Abstract: In a recording apparatus for reproducing information recorded on a recording medium by utilizing near-field light, the recording apparatus realizes reliable information reproduction with a simple structure. Illumination light 20 is illuminated to the recording medium 10 to create near-field light on a surface of the recording medium 10. The created near-field light is scattered by a microscopic aperture 12 formed in the aperture element 11 so that scattering light (propagation light) thereof is detected to create a reproduced signal. Derived from the created reproduced light a distance control signal representative of a distance between the microscopic aperture 12 and the recording medium 10. Based on the distance control signal, the aperture element 11 is controlled in position. Due to this, the microscopic aperture 12 is brought into proximity to the recording medium 10.

Abstract: In a method of producing an optical aperture, there is provided an object having a substrate, at least one conical- or pyramidal-shaped tip disposed on the substrate, at least one stopper disposed on the substrate in the vicinity of the tip and having a height substantially equal to a height of the tip, and an opaque film disposed at least on the tip. A pressing body is disposed relative to the object so that a surface of the pressing body is disposed over the tip and at least a portion of the stopper. The pressing body is then displaced to bring the surface of the pressing body into contact with the object so that a force component is directed to a front end of the tip to form an optical aperture at the front end of the tip.

Abstract: A near-field light-generating element has a support member and a minute aperture having a size smaller than the wavelength of incident light provided on the support member so as to produce near-field light in response to incident light directed thereto. The minute aperture has a contour in a given plane with one side lying along a line perpendicular to a direction of polarization of the incident light and an opposite side in the given plane defining an apex.

Abstract: A near-field optical probe has a flat support member having opposed flat surfaces, and a tapered through-hole extends through the support member and terminates at one of the flat surfaces in a narrow aperture. A light collecting layer having a plurality of reflective surfaces is disposed on the support member for collecting and focusing light passing through the narrow aperture. An optical detector disposed above the light collecting layer detects light passing through the light collecting layer.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming an optical aperture comprises an object having a tip with a pointed end. Stoppers are disposed adjacent the tip. A pressing body applies a loading force to press the pointed end of the tip and at least a part of each of the stoppers to form an optical aperture at the pointed end of the tip. A load controller controls the loading force applied by the loader.