Abstract: A near field optical disc and a near field optical disc reading apparatus are provided. The near field optical disc has at least one light source and a near field optical pick-up head, and the near field optical disc includes a light guiding substance, a first reflection layer and a second reflection layer. The light guiding substance has a first surface, a second surface opposite thereto and at least one light entrance window. Light emitted from the light source enters the light guiding substance through the light entrance window. The second reflection layer is disposed on the second surface. The first reflection layer is disposed on the first surface and has a plurality of light pervious holes. A part of the light is transmitted through the light pervious holes and picked up by the near field optical pick-up head.

Abstract: A flexible waveguide with an adjustable index of refraction. The core layer and/or the cladding layer of a flexible waveguide may include a plurality of nanoparticles having a different index of refraction than the core layer and/or cladding layer. The plurality of nanoparticles may have an index of refraction that is greater than or less than an index of refraction of either the core layer or the cladding layer in order that the overall effective index of refraction of either the core layer or the cladding layer can be adjusted.

Abstract: A micro optical head is provided, which provides sub-wavelength focusing spot and very long depth of focus. The optical head includes a transparent substrate, an opaque film, and at least one sub-wavelength annular channel. After coherent light transmits the transparent substrate supporting the optical head and passes through the appropriately designed sub-wavelength annular channel, the transmitted light can overcome the diffraction limit, and the transmission energy is improved efficiently. The transmitted light converges after a certain distance behind the optical head and forms a sub-wavelength-scale beam that maintains a very long distance without divergence.

Abstract: A multiple wavelength-adaptive optical pickup according to the present invention enables to obtain stable signals by suppressing displacement of optical intensity distribution at a light receiving section. When an incident angle of a central beam of a zero-dimensional beam of a beam reflected at an optical disc into a half mirror is taken as ?, if variation in transmittance of the mirror become a maximum with respect to change in the incident angle from ? to a plus side in any one of the wavelengths corresponding to the respective optical discs, a ?1 dimensional beam generated on the minus side with respect to the zero-dimensional beam is received by the light receiving section, and if the variation in the transmittance of the mirror become the maximum with respect to change in the incident angle from ? to the minus side, a +1 dimensional beam generated on the plus side with respect to the zero-dimensional beam is received by the light receiving section.

Abstract: Provided is a highly reliable optical recording head which has a small fluctuation of a quantity of light applied on a recording medium due to temperature. The optical recording head is provided with a light guide section for guiding light applied from a light source, a slider relatively moving to the recording medium, and a light transmitting section, which is arranged on the slider, transmits the light outputted from the light guide section and outputs the light toward the recording medium. The optical recording head is further provided with an adhesive layer, which is sandwiched between the light transmitting section and the light guide section and fixes the positions of the light transmitting section and the light guide section, and an elastic cohesive layer, which is sandwiched between the portions other than the light transmitting section of the slider and the light guide section.

Abstract: A flexible waveguide with an adjustable index of refraction. The core layer and/or the cladding layer of a flexible waveguide may include a plurality of nanoparticles having a different index of refraction than the core layer and/or cladding layer. The plurality of nanoparticles may have an index of refraction that is greater than or less than an index of refraction of either the core layer or the cladding layer in order that the overall effective index of refraction of either the core layer or the cladding layer can be adjusted.

Abstract: A laser diode is fixed to a light source support substrate and a first surface of a slider substrate is fixed to a second surface of the light source support substrate; therefore, the slider substrate and the laser diode are kept in a fixed positional relation. Since the laser diode faces a light entrance face of a core, long-distance propagation of light as in the conventional technology does not occur, and light emitted from a light emitting element is guided well to a medium-facing surface while permitting some mounting error and coupling loss of light. A spot size w of a light intensity distribution along the X-axis in the XY plane including an incident-light centroid position on the light entrance face is set larger than a thickness of the core, whereby variation in incidence efficiency is well suppressed against positional deviation.

Abstract: Incident light can be efficiently converted into near-field light whose spot size is small. A waveguide 10 includes: a metallic member 11 made of a metallic material; and a dielectric member 12 made of a dielectric material. The metallic member 11 includes a first interface 16 and a second interface 18 so as to sandwich the dielectric member 12. The first interface and the second interface are provided so that an inter-interface distance therebetween may decrease from ends 16c and 18c to ends 16d and 18d. The first interface 16 and the second interface 18 have flections P16 and P18, respectively.

Abstract: An optical transducer includes an optical element for directing an electromagnetic wave to a focal region and a metallic nano-structure having a longitudinal axis non-parallel to an electric field of the electromagnetic wave. The optical element for directing an electromagnetic wave may comprise one of a solid immersion lens, a solid immersion mirror, or a planar waveguide. The metallic nano-structure may comprise a metallic pin. The metallic nano-structure may be structured and arranged for resonant coupling of energy into a recording medium.

Abstract: A recorder has a recording medium for information recording, a light source, an optical system, a slider, and an optical waveguide. To the optical system, light from the light source enters, and the slider moves relative to the recording medium while not in contact therewith. The optical waveguide is arranged at position facing the recording medium in the slider so that light entering from the optical system is irradiated on the recording medium. Where the mode field diameter of the optical waveguide on the light output side is d and the mode field diameter thereof on the light input side is D, the mode field diameter is converted by smoothly changing the diameter of the optical waveguide to satisfy D>d.

Abstract: An optical pickup includes: a slide base, having: a first surface; and a second surface; a first substrate fixed to the first surface; a standing frame disposed on the second surface; a second substrate facing the standing frame; a laser diode operable to emit a laser beam to the disk and disposed in the standing frame; an optical, element supported by the second substrate and adapted to receive a reflected beam; a flexible flat cable. The flexible flat cable is bent so that one end portion of the flexible flat cable is connected to the second substrate. A curved portion is formed with a slit elongated in a longitudinal direction of the flexible flat cable and defines an outer portion and an inner portion. A width of the inner portion is narrower than a width of the outer portion.

Abstract: An optical pickup device includes light sources for respectively emitting a plurality of different wavelengths of light, a unit structured for causing at least a part of the light emitted from the light sources to pass a same optical path; and a focusing unit for focusing the light. The focusing unit includes at least first and second focusing parts, the first focusing part being to focus mainly a wavelength of light different from a wavelength of light to be mainly focused by the second focusing part. The optical pickup device and optical disk device are capable of realizing at least one of thickness reduction, size reduction and suppression against characteristic deterioration even where coping with various wavelengths of laser including a blue laser.

Abstract: High-density optical data storage comprising multi-layer optical disc and multi-wavelength reading/recording head, wherein the reading/recording head utilizes a single-mode optic fiber connecting the head with remote short-wavelength laser and acousto-optical (AO) cells that allow precisely positioning the focused light spot on the track and filtering the specific wavelength from multi-wavelength light emitted by the laser built in the head.

Abstract: According to a first aspect of the invention, an optical information recording apparatus includes a spatial beam modulator, an optical component, a drive unit, and a control unit. The apparatus performs angle-multiplex recording of the information so that an absolute value of a bisector angle ?x for n-th recording (1?n?rN) is smaller than an absolute value of a bisector angle ?x for m-th recording (m>n and rN<m?N). Here, N is the number of pages to be defined as the total number of recording times performed on a recording spot of an optical information recording medium. The n-th recording is performed on the recording spot with the reference beam and the information beam. r is a rate to be determined by a volumetric shrinkage of the optical information recording medium. The volumetric shrinkage increases with irradiating the optical information recording medium with the reference beam and the information beam.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a load beam, a slider coupled to the load beam by a gimbal assembly and including an optical transducer, an optical fiber for transmitting light directly toward the transducer, and a mounting structure for adjusting the position of an end of the optical fiber. Data storage devices that include the apparatus are also included.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises an optical waveguide, a grating for coupling light into the waveguide, and an optical element for splitting a light beam into a plurality of beams that strike the grating at different angles of incidence.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical head with a single or multiple sub-wavelength light beams, which can be used in arenas such as photolithography, optical storage, optical microscopy, to name a few. The present invention includes a transparent substrate, a thin film, and a surface structure with sub-wavelength surface profile. The incident light transmits through the transparent substrate, forms a surface plasma wave along the sub-wavelength aperture located within the thin film, and finally re-emits through spatial coupling with the sub-wavelength profile of the surface structure. As the coupled re-emitting light beam or light beams can maintain the waist less than that of the diffraction limit for a few micrometers out of the surface with sub-wavelength profile in many cases, this invention can have applications ranging from micro or nano manufacturing, metrology, and manipulation by using light beams with waist smaller than the diffraction limit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical system for reproducing and/or recording optically readable effects on an associated optical record carrier by means of a number of radiation sources. The number of radiation sources comprises a first radiation source capable of emitting a first radiation beam, and at least a second radiation source capable of emitting at least a second radiation beam. The system further comprises beam dividing means for separating at least the first beam into a first main beam and at least a first auxiliary beam, moreover the system comprises photodetection means capable of detecting reflected light from an associated optical record carrier, wherein the optical system is adapted to perform radial tracking from the reflected light of the at least first auxiliary beam being positioned in a first guard band comprised on the associated carrier, and wherein the number of radiation sources is less than or equal to the number of tracks.

Abstract: There is provided an inexpensive optical pickup device that is capable of accurately detecting light quantities of output laser beams on occasion of at least either of reproduction and recording on an information recording medium. A beam from a first light source 1 which beam does not pass through a wavelength selection film 6 of a light separation element 7 is reflected by a first reflection film 10 in a direction to an optical monitor 5. A beam from a second light source 2 which beam does not pass through the wavelength selection film 6 of the light separation element 7 is reflected by a second reflection film 11 in a direction to the optical monitor 5.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes a near field transducer comprising a conductive metal film having a main body and a ridge extending from the main body and an optical waveguide for illumination of the near field transducer, a light guiding core layer of the optical waveguide being spaced from the near field transducer by less than about 100 nanometers and greater than 0 nanometers. In another embodiment, a method includes forming a near field transducer structure and removing a portion of the near field transducer structure. The method also includes forming a cladding layer adjacent a remaining portion of the near field transducer structure, wherein a portion of the cladding layer extends along the remaining portion of the near field transducer structure and forming a core layer above the cladding layer. Other apparatuses and methods are also included in the invention.

Abstract: A near field light generating device generating near field light from incident light by using a solid immersion mirror and a heat assisted magnetic recording head with the same are provided. The near field light generating device includes a light source; a waveguide core which transmits light; and a solid immersion mirror, which generates near field light, including an upper transmission surface through which light from the waveguide core is transmitted into the solid immersion mirror, a lower reflection surface, opposite the upper transmission surface, which reflections light incident thereon, lateral reflection surfaces, facing each other at sides of the solid immersion mirror, which reflect light incident thereon, and a lower transmission region disposed at a center of the lower reflection surface. Light reflected from the lateral reflection surfaces forms a light spot on the lower transmission region.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide an optical head and an optical disk device capable of suitably detecting tracking error signals for different types of optical discs. A polarizing hologram element includes a first area and a second area adjacent to the first area in an area where a beam reflected and diffracted by a BD passes. The first area includes a first transmission area for transmitting many 1st-order diffracted lights from the BD, a second transmission area adjacent to the first transmission area and closer to an optical axis than the first transmission area, and a third transmission area adjacent to the first and second transmission areas. The second area includes a fourth transmission area for transmitting many 1st-order diffracted lights from the BD, a fifth transmission area adjacent to the fourth transmission area and closer to the optical axis than the fourth transmission area, and a sixth transmission area adjacent to the fourth and fifth transmission areas.

Abstract: The media heating device of the magnetic head includes an optical resonant cavity produces a high intensity near-field optical beam of subwavelength dimension adjacent to the write pole. A suitable resonant cavity may be a spherical cavity, disk shaped cavity, ring shaped cavity, racetrack shaped cavity, micropillar cavity, photonic crystal cavity and Fabry-Perot cavity. The cavity is fabricated as a planar thin film structure in layers that are generally parallel to the magnetic pole thin film layers of the magnetic head, such that the principal axis of the resonant cavity is parallel to the air bearing surface (ABS). Optical energy is coupled into the resonant cavity through a waveguide that is placed proximate the cavity, and optical energy is coupled out of the cavity through an aperture that is placed within the cavity. A preferred embodiment may include a nano-aperture disposed between the resonant cavity and the ABS.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first waveguide configured to focus an electromagnetic wave to a focal region, and a second waveguide to further condense the light to an optical spot. The second waveguide includes a metallic structure defining an opening having one end positioned adjacent to the focal region and a multilayer structure positioned in the opening, the multilayer structure including a first layer of dielectric material, and second and third layers of dielectric material positioned on opposite sides of the first layer. A layer of lower index of refraction than that of the first dielectric layer may be positioned adjacent to the inner walls of the opening in the second waveguide to efficiently excite surface plasmons, and propagate them with low loss.

Abstract: An optical pickup includes: a first emission unit emitting an optical beam with a first wavelength corresponding to a first optical disc; a second emission unit emitting an optical beam with a second wavelength, which is longer than the first wavelength, corresponding to a second optical disc different from the first optical disc; a third emission unit emitting an optical beam with a third wavelength, which is longer than the second wavelength, corresponding to a third optical disc different from the first and second optical discs; a condensing optical device condensing, on a signal recording surface of a corresponding optical disc, the optical beams emitted from the first to third emission units; and a diffraction unit provided in the condensing optical device, which is disposed on the optical path of the optical beams with the first to third wavelengths.

Abstract: Disclosed is a reflecting wavelength plate that deflects and reflects a light path and adds a phase difference with respect to plural incident light having different wavelengths. The reflecting wavelength plate includes a substrate; a reflecting film laminated on the substrate; and a sub-wavelength concavo-convex structure that is laminated on the reflecting film and has a pitch less than or equal to the shortest wavelength of the plural incident light. The filling factor and the groove depth of the sub-wavelength concavo-convex structure are determined so as to add the phase difference obtained by (k?)/8, where k is an integer, to the plural incident light having the different wavelengths.

Abstract: This invention relates to an optical mechanism comprising: an optical beam generating mechanism to generate an optical beam; and a unitary, transparent waveguide for guiding the optical beam to an optically writable surface wherein optical elements for guiding the optical beam are coated onto the waveguide to create a relatively compact optical system, a relatively low exit numerical aperture for the exit pupil, and for bending and re-directing the optical beam.

Abstract: A write head structure for perpendicular recording having a pole tip integrated into the metal film surrounding a C aperture near field light source is disclosed. The close proximity of the pole tip to the light source enables more precise location of data cells written into the magnetic media, through the use of dual gradient thermally assisted recording. In dual gradient recording, data is fixed by the effect of both a thermal gradient, which affects the coercivity of the magnetic media, combined with a magnetic field gradient imposed by the pole tip.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a component having a first surface, a first waveguide for directing electromagnetic radiation to a focal point adjacent to the first surface, a storage medium positioned adjacent to the first surface, a detector for detecting electromagnetic radiation reflected from the storage medium, and a structure positioned adjacent to the focal point for collecting the reflected electromagnetic radiation and for transmitting the reflected electromagnetic radiation toward the detector, wherein the structure comprises a second waveguide including a first cladding layer positioned adjacent to a first side of the first waveguide and having a first end positioned adjacent to the first surface and a second cladding layer positioned adjacent to a second side of the first waveguide and having a first end positioned adjacent to the air bearing surface.

Abstract: An optical recording head simply structured, enabling a reduction in thickness, and having sufficient efficiency even if a light source with small output is used when a plasmon probe is used. The optical recording head includes a light source section for emitting light, a slider moving relative to a recording medium, and an optical waveguide disposed in the slider, guiding the light from the light source section and irradiating the surface of the recording medium with the light, and having a light emission angle not perpendicular to the surface, of the slider, facing the surface of the recording medium.

Abstract: In an integrated optical unit of the present invention, a photo detector (12) and a holding member (17) that sustains a semiconductor laser (11) are provided on a polarizing beam splitter (14). This makes it possible to reduce a deviation from a designed value due to tolerance, and adjust a relative positional relationship between the semiconductor laser (11) and the photo detector (12). Therefore, returned light from an optical disk (4) is accurately adjusted with respect to a division line of a photo-detecting device (13). As a result, stable servo-control is realized, and an information signal with fine quality is obtained.

Abstract: A method for adjusting an aberration is disclosed that adjusts the aberration existing in a light spot by using a control signal generated from a wobbling signal and a reproduction signal, and thereby maintaining an appropriate S/N ratio for both the wobbling signal and the reproduction signal even when astigmatism, spherical aberration, or other aberrations are present. In an optical pickup, by moving a collimator lens along a light path, a spherical aberration is generated on the light emitted from a light source, a reproduction signal (RF signal) is obtained from the light reflected from an optical disk, a wobbling signal is obtained from the light reflected from grooves on the optical disk, and the correction aberration is adjusted based on the RF signal and the wobbling signal.

Abstract: A near-field optical probe has a planar substrate formed with a through-hole and a phase shifter layer translucent to light having a wavelength of illumination light used to illuminate the substrate for producing near-field light. The phase shifter layer is effective to cause a shift of phase in the illumination light by 180 degrees and is provided on the substrate so as to cover one opening of the through-hole to form a microscopic aperture for producing near-field light.

Abstract: A near-field optical head has a planar substrate having a first surface, a second surface disposed opposite to the first surface, and an inverted conical or pyramidal hole extending through the first and second surfaces. The conical or pyramidal hole has at least one fine aperture formed at an apex thereof and is disposed on the first surface of the planar substrate. An optical waveguide is disposed on the second surface of the planar substrate for propagating light. A light reflection film is disposed in the optical waveguide for reflecting in the direction of the fine aperture light propagated through the optical waveguide.

Abstract: An optical head device compatible to different types of optical discs and capable of guaranteeing a sufficiently wide dynamic range for a low density optical disc, and the like are provided. The optical head device includes a plurality of light sources switchably usable; an objective lens for converging light emitted from one of the plurality of light sources to an information recording layer of an optical disc; and a light detector for receiving the light reflected by the information recording layer and outputting an electric signal based on the amount of the received light. The plurality of light sources include a first light source for emitting light having a first wavelength and a second light source for emitting light having a second wavelength shorter than the first wavelength.

Abstract: Provided are an optical device, optically assisted magnetic recording head and optically assisted magnetic recording apparatus that effectively emit the introduced light, from the apex portion of a waveguide. The optical device includes: an optical element having a substantially parabolic outline which contains a side surface and the apex portion with a light-emitting surface; a light guiding unit for forming a light spot on the core layer; and a light introducing section provided on the core layer at the position at which the light spot is formed. The light introduced into the core layer travels substantially parallel to the axis of the parabola, and is reflected by the side surface so as to be converged at the focal point of the parabola and is then emitted from the apex portion. The position of the point where the light intensity is greatest in the light spot is deviated from the axis.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a slider having an air bearing surface, a first waveguide for directing electromagnetic radiation to a focal point adjacent to the air bearing surface, a storage medium position adjacent to the air bearing surface, a detector for detecting electromagnetic radiation reflected from the storage medium, and a structure positioned adjacent to the focal point for collecting the reflected electromagnetic radiation and for transmitted the reflected electromagnetic radiation toward the detector.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a planar waveguide, first and second gratings for coupling electromagnetic radiation into the planar waveguide, and a beam shaper for controlling the amplitude distribution of the electromagnetic radiation that impinges on the first and second gratings. A method of coupling electromagnetic radiation into a planar waveguide is also provided.

Abstract: An optical head has a beam input/output coupler on a planar waveguide and other parts including: a light transmitting element emitting a beam; a planar waveguide formed on a substrate and receiving the beam oscillated from the light transmitting element; a beam input/output coupler integrated as a thin film on a portion of the planar waveguide and receiving the beam through the planar waveguide to transmit the beam vertically toward a disc positioned above the planar waveguide or transmitting the beam reflected from the disc through the planar waveguide; and light receiving elements receiving the beam propagated to the planar waveguide through the beam input/output coupler.

Abstract: An optical near-field generating apparatus includes a conductive scatterer causing an optical near-field based on a surface plasmon to be generated by being illuminated by incident light, and a conductive body arranged in a vicinity of the scatterer and generating a surface plasmon by being illuminated by the incident light and by being influenced by the surface plasmon of the scatterer. An oscillation direction of the surface plasmon of the conductive body is approximately parallel to an oscillation direction of the surface plasmon of the scatterer, and a generation region of the surface plasmon of the conductive body exists in a position deviated from a region extending in an oscillation direction of the surface plasmon of the scatterer.

Abstract: An optical pick-up device includes a laser source enabling emission of at least two light beams with different wavelengths, an objective lens which focuses the light beams emitted from the laser source on an optical disc, an optical detector which receives a light reflected from the optical disc, a front monitor which receives a part of the light beams emitted from the laser source, a front monitor light-guiding plate which guides part of the light beams emitted from the laser source to the front monitor. The front monitor light-guiding plate is arranged between the laser source and the objective lens, at least a part of a region of the front monitor light-guiding plate illuminated by the light beams emitted from the laser source has a predetermined shape which causes the light beams to change traveling direction thereof by refraction and then be guided to the front monitor.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a waveguide having an end adjacent to an air bearing surface, first and second poles positioned on opposite sides of the waveguide, and wherein the first pole includes a first portion spaced from the waveguide and a second portion extending from the first portion to the air bearing surface, with the second portion being structured such that an end of the second portion is closer to the waveguide than the first portion.

Abstract: In fabricating a monochromic and highly coherent light source, no single crystalline bulk semiconductor is used, but two different kinds of transparent substances are alternately stacked over each other to constitute a periodic structure in ½ of the intended wavelength. At least one of the two kinds of transparent substances is controllable in electric conductivity, and the structure is such that inside a medium consisting of this kind of transparent substance light-emitting semiconductor particulates are embedded. Accordingly, a light-emitting device has this structure, which makes possible control of the center wavelength of light emission, the width of wavelength distribution and coherence by adjusting the geometrical parameters of the device without having to alter the kind of material use.

Abstract: An optical information recording device, which emits a first beam to one side of an optical information recording medium and a second beam to the other side and forms a recording mark or a hologram by putting together the first and second beams, includes: a section that collects and emits the first beam to the recording medium; a section that moves a focal point of the first beam so that the focal point is positioned at a target depth and is aligned with a target track; a section that makes a diameter of the second beam around its focal point larger than a diameter of the first beam around its focal point; and a section that puts the focal point of the second beam at the target depth and moves the focal point of the second beam such that the second beam strikes the target track.

Abstract: A micro optical head is provided, which provides sub-wavelength focusing spot and very long depth of focus. The optical head includes a transparent substrate, an opaque film, and at least one sub-wavelength annular channel. After coherent light transmits the transparent substrate supporting the optical head and passes through the appropriately designed sub-wavelength annular channel, the transmitted light can overcome the diffraction limit, and the transmission energy is improved efficiently. The transmitted light converges after a certain distance behind the optical head and forms a sub-wavelength-scale beam that maintains a very long distance without divergence.

Abstract: In a particular type of high-density optical recording systems, a solid immersion lens (SIL) is used in the objective system to focus a radiation beam onto an information layer of an optical record carrier. The distance between the exit surface of the SIL and the entrance surface of the record carrier is typically 25 nm to allow evanescent coupling of the radiation from the SIL to the optical record carrier for a system using a blue laser as radiation source. Such a system is also called a near-field system, deriving its name from the near field formed by the evanescent wave at the exit face of the SIL. A suitable gap signal, representing the width of the gap, is used to control the width of the gap during operation of the system. Tolerances in the optical elements and opto-mechanical components of the optical system of the optical recording system can lead to an offset in the position of the focus point of the objective system.

Abstract: A multiplexing optical system includes collimator lenses, a first condensing lens, a second condensing lens and an optical fiber. The collimator lenses collimate divergent laser beams that have been emitted from semiconductor lasers. The first condensing lens condenses laser beams transmitted through the collimator lenses in only one of a plane including the stripe width direction of the semiconductor lasers and a plane including a direction perpendicular to the stripe width direction. The second condensing lens condenses laser beams transmitted through the first condensing lens. The optical fiber is arranged in such a manner that the condensed laser beams enter the optical fiber. In the multiplexing optical system, an anamorphic lens is used as the second condensing lens, and the anamorphic lens condenses the laser beams in the two planes in cooperation with the first condensing lens.

Abstract: A magnetic recording device is provided according to the present invention for magnetic recording on a recording medium. The magnetic recording device includes a planar waveguide having a propagation axis. The planar waveguide allows light received thereby to propagate along the propagation axis. The magnetic recording device further includes a magnetic pole having a yoke disposed adjacent the planar waveguide and a pole tip extending into the planar waveguide along the propagation axis. By extending the pole tip into, and incorporating it with, the planar waveguide, the light propagating through the planar waveguide and a magnetic flux flowing through the magnetic pole are co-locatable on a recording medium disposed adjacent the magnetic recording device.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first waveguide configured to focus an electromagnetic wave to a focal region, and a second waveguide defining an opening having an end positioned adjacent to the focal region, the second waveguide including a first metallic layer, and second and third layers positioned on opposite sides of the first metallic layer, wherein the first metallic layer has a first propagation constant larger than propagation constants of the second and third layers.

Abstract: A metallic wave guide and a light delivery module are provided. The metallic waveguide includes a metal body formed of a conductive metal and having an aperture formed therethrough, the aperture having input and output ends. The aperture has a bent portion for changing a light traveling direction between the input and output ends, and a tapered portion between the bent portion and the output end. The tapered portion has a width that is gradually reduced toward the output end, and the aperture is formed in a C-shape by a ridge formed on an inner surface of the metal body.