JP2004288240A - Optical element, optical head, and optical recording/reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical element which can transmit light with high efficiency in a conductive film having openings and the surface shapes and to provide an optical head using this element and an optical recording/reproducing device. <P>SOLUTION: In this optical element, the intensity of the light made incident on the 1st surface of the conductive film, whereon a plurality of openings communicating to a 2nd surface from a 1st surface are periodically arranged while having 1st and 2nd surfaces, and transmitted through the opening is made stronger as compared with the case the opening is not periodical, and it has a feature that an opening diameter at the side of the 1st surface on the opening is larger than an opening diameter at the side of the 2nd surface. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an optical element, an optical recording head and an optical recording / reproducing apparatus using the same, and more particularly to a conductive film provided with the optical element, which has an opening and a surface shape smaller than a wavelength, and enables a very high throughput. The present invention relates to an optical element, an optical head and an optical recording / reproducing apparatus using the same.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Optical recording media such as CD-ROM (compact disc-read only memory) and DVD (digital video disc) have features such as high recording density, compact design, portability and robustness. With both playback devices becoming cheaper, they are becoming increasingly attractive data storage media. For this optical recording medium, a higher recording density is desired for recording and reproducing video data for a long time.
[0003]
In order to increase the recording density beyond the current value, it is necessary to reduce the size of a light beam for writing or reading data. When an ordinary optical system, that is, a condensing lens is used, the size of the light spot at the focal point is mainly determined by the wavelength and the numerical aperture of the lens. In general, the size of the light spot can be reduced by using a short wavelength light source and a lens having a high numerical aperture. However, in this method, there is a limit on a spot size that can be minimized by a so-called diffraction limit. Its size is about half the wavelength of the light source.
[0004]
Recently, near-field optical technology has attracted attention as a technology that is not restricted by the diffraction limit. For example, in the vicinity of a small opening having a size equal to or smaller than the wavelength, a small light spot having the same size as the opening size is formed. By utilizing this, it is expected that writing or reading of minute pits by a minute light spot which is not limited to the wavelength of the light source can be realized by bringing the opening close to the recording medium.
[0005]
On the other hand, the optical head using such near-field optical technology has a problem to be solved. The problem is that the light use efficiency is low and it is difficult to sufficiently transmit the light through the aperture. The power of light transmitted through an opening (opening diameter d) having a size equal to or smaller than the wavelength λ provided in the metal film is described in H.A. A. As described in Bethe, "Theory of Diffraction by Small Hall", Physical Review, Vol. 66, pp. 163-182 (1944), it is proportional to (d / λ) to the fourth power. Significantly attenuated. Therefore, optical transmission through small apertures potentially has the problem that the signal-to-noise ratio is too low for reading and the light intensity is too low for writing, resulting in the use of near-field optics. No practical optical head has been obtained so far.
[0006]
In order to overcome such a situation, an optical transmission technique has been disclosed in which a metal film having an aperture array having a diameter smaller than the wavelength of light is used, and the transmittance of light transmitted through the aperture array is significantly increased. (For example, see Non-Patent Document 1).
According to this, by arranging the openings in a periodic arrangement, or by providing a periodic surface shape on the conductive film in cooperation with the openings, the conductivity of the light applied to the conductive film is reduced. The light intensity transmitted through one or more openings having a diameter equal to or less than the wavelength provided in the film is greatly increased as compared with a case where there are no periodic openings or surface shapes. According to experimental verification, the rate of increase can be as high as 1,000 times. This increase is stated to occur when light incident on the conductive film interacts resonantly with the surface plasmon mode excited in the conductive film.
[0007]
Furthermore, Sakaguchi et al., In order to improve the weak transmitted light amount of the near-field optical recording head, surface plasmon and laser light generated through an aperture having a size equal to or less than the wavelength provided through the metal film and a periodic surface shape. A read / write head for an optical recording apparatus having a very high transmitted light power density and resolution utilizing a surface plasmon-enhancement has been disclosed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this optical recording head, the metal film has a periodic surface shape provided on at least one of the opening and the surface of the metal film, so that light incident on one of the surfaces of the metal film has at least one of the surfaces of the metal film. Has been shown to interact with the surface plasmon mode of the, thereby increasing transmitted light through the aperture through the metal film.
[0008]
However, Ebbesen et al. Or Sakaguchi et al. Show highly efficient light transmission using surface plasmons. In the conventional shape, a sufficient light transmittance has not been obtained, and an aperture device having a diameter smaller than the wavelength and exhibiting sufficient transmission efficiency has not been realized to date.
[0009]
[Non-patent document 1]
Ebbesen, "Extraordinary optical transmission through sub-wavelength holes arrays", Nature, No. 1988. 391, p. 667-669 (February 12, 1988)
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-291265 A (No. 8-10, FIG. 1)
[0010]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, it is very difficult to transmit light through an aperture having a wavelength equal to or less than the wavelength, and it has been proposed to use transmitted light amplified by the surface plasmon effect in order to solve this. There is a problem that the utilization efficiency of the obtained transmitted light with respect to the incident light is not yet sufficient.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an optical element capable of transmitting light with high efficiency in a conductive film having an opening and a surface shape, and an optical head and an optical recording / reproducing apparatus using the same.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention provides an optical element. The optical element has a first surface and a second surface, and is incident on a first surface of a conductive film in which a plurality of openings communicating from the first surface to the second surface are periodically provided. An optical element wherein the intensity of light transmitted through the aperture is enhanced compared to when the aperture is not periodic, wherein the aperture diameter of the aperture on the first surface side is less than the aperture diameter on the second surface side. It is characterized by being larger than the caliber.
Also, a surface having first and second surfaces, at least one opening communicating from the first surface to the second surface, and a surface periodically provided on at least one of the first and second surfaces An optical element, wherein the intensity of light incident on the first surface and transmitted through the opening of the conductive film having the shape is enhanced as compared with the case where there is no surface shape, wherein The opening diameter on the side is larger than the opening diameter on the side on the second surface.
The diameter of the opening on the side of the second surface is smaller than the wavelength of the incident light.
The shape of the opening communicating from the first surface to the second surface is formed by a tapered shape having a small opening diameter or by a plurality of steps.
By having such an aperture shape, light coupled to the surface plasmon mode can be efficiently transmitted to the small aperture on the emission side, and high transmission efficiency can be realized.
[0012]
The present invention also provides an optical head. A first optical head for recording at least information on an optical recording medium by light from a light source, said optical element; a waveguide means for guiding output light of said light source; Means for condensing the output light on the light condensing portion of the optical element, and an opening on the second surface side of the optical element is arranged close to the optical recording medium.
Further, a slider shape for floating the optical recording medium to a predetermined height from the optical recording medium surface by rotation of the optical recording medium is formed, the waveguide means is an optical fiber, and the condensing means is an exit of the optical fiber. A lens for collimating the emitted light, a right-angle prism for deflecting the optical axis of the collimated light at a right angle, and a lens for condensing the collimated light on the condensing portion, wherein the second surface of the conductive film has a slider-shaped floating surface It is almost the same as the surface.
Also, a second optical head of the present invention is an optical head for recording and reproducing information on an optical recording medium by light from a light source, wherein the optical element and a waveguide means for guiding output light of the light source. Means for condensing the output light of the waveguide means to the light condensing portion of the optical element, and a light receiving element for receiving reflected light from the optical recording medium near an opening of the optical element; Is disposed close to the optical recording medium.
Further, a slider shape for floating the optical recording medium to a predetermined height from the surface of the optical recording medium by rotation of the optical recording medium is formed, the waveguide means is an optical fiber, and the condensing means is the light emitted from the optical fiber. A collimating lens, a right-angle prism for deflecting the optical axis of the collimated light at a right angle, and a lens for condensing the collimated light to a condensing portion. A light-receiving element for receiving reflected light is provided, and a second surface of the conductive film is substantially flush with the slider-shaped floating surface.
With the above configuration, it is possible to obtain an optical head capable of increasing the light emitted from the minute aperture to a value that can be recorded on the optical recording medium or more, and recording and reproducing information at a higher density than ever before.
[0013]
Further, the present invention provides an optical recording / reproducing apparatus. The optical recording / reproducing apparatus records information on an optical recording medium with light from a light source, and records / reproduces information with an optical head that reproduces information recorded on the optical recording medium with reflected light from the recording medium. An apparatus, wherein the optical head is the second optical head.
Another optical recording / reproducing apparatus is an optical recording / reproducing apparatus including a recording optical head and a reproducing optical head for recording / reproducing information on / from an optical recording medium, wherein the recording optical head is the first optical head. And the reproducing optical head is an optical head that receives and transmits the transmitted light transmitted through the optical recording medium.
Another optical recording and reproducing apparatus is an optical recording and reproducing apparatus that includes a recording head and a reproducing head and records and reproduces information on and from an optical recording medium. The optical recording medium is a magneto-optical recording medium. Is the first optical head, and the reproducing head is a magnetic head using a magnetoresistive effect for detecting a leakage magnetic flux of a magneto-optical recording medium.
With the above configuration, an optical recording / reproducing apparatus which can record / reproduce information at a higher density than ever before can be obtained.
[0014]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 to 5 are views showing an embodiment of the optical element 10 according to the present invention.
The optical element 10 has a conductive film 20 including a first surface 20a and a second surface 20b, and incident light is applied to the first surface 20a of the conductive film 20. The conductive film 20 has at least one hole, that is, an opening 30, and may have a plurality of openings 30. The opening 30 has a diameter da of the opening 30 on the first surface 20a larger than a diameter db of the opening 30 on the second surface 20b. When a plurality of openings 30 that are periodically arranged are formed in the conductive film 20, the period is P. The conductive film 20 is made of a metal or a doped semiconductor material, and is preferably aluminum, silver, gold, chromium, or the like.
[0015]
The conductive film 20 has a periodic surface shape on one surface or both surfaces of the conductive film 20, and has a single opening 30 or a plurality of periodically arranged openings 30. It may be something. If there is a single opening 30, a periodic topography should be provided on at least one surface of the conductive film 20. When a plurality of openings 30 are provided, the periodic surface shape is not necessarily required if the plurality of openings 30 themselves are periodically arranged, but in order to maximize the transmission efficiency. , May be provided on at least one surface of the conductive film 20.
Surfaces that include periodic surface features are all surfaces that exhibit raised and / or subsided regions as opposed to substantially smooth surfaces, where these regions have a periodic or regular repeating pattern (eg, (A regular two-dimensional lattice).
[0016]
The opening 30 penetrates the entire thickness of the conductive film 20 in order to identify the opening 30 penetrating the entire thickness of the conductive film 20 and the projections and depressions that would otherwise be nominally smooth except the opening 30 without the opening 30. Instead, the term topography is used to describe surface protrusions or depressions that are not openings. The surface shape can be formed in any desired shape. It should be noted that the intent of the present invention is not limited by any particular dimension of the surface shape, but the width of the surface shape, ie, the dimension dSF of the surface shape in the periodic direction is preferably made smaller than the period P of the surface shape. . Furthermore, the value obtained by multiplying the period P of the surface shape by the refractive index nd of the medium adjacent to the conductive film 20 is also smaller than the maximum wavelength λ of light transmitted through the conductive film 20 (optimally only slightly smaller). Is desirable. That is, the preferred relationships among dSF, P, nd, and λ are dSF <P and ndP <λ. However, the above relationship does not limit the present invention. Here, when two different media are adjacent to the two surfaces of the conductive film 20, it is preferable that nd is equal to the smaller of the refractive indexes of the two media.
[0017]
Incident light having the intensity of Iincident, symbolized by the arrow at the top of FIG. 1, is directed toward the first surface 20a of the conductive film 20 and is increased from the aperture 30 in the second surface 20b of the conductive film 20. It is transmitted as output light symbolized by an arrow at the bottom of FIG. 1 having the intensity Ioutput. Note that an increase in transmission intensity also occurs if light travels in the opposite direction through this structure, ie, if the light is incident on the second surface 20b and is transmitted as output light from the first surface. It is to be done. In the present invention, the diameter da of the opening 30 on the first surface 20a on which light is incident is made larger than the diameter db of the opening 30 on the second surface 20b, thereby reducing the diameter db of the opening 30 on the second surface 20b. The outgoing light is remarkably increased while keeping it, that is, while keeping the size of the light spot of the outgoing light in the vicinity of the second surface 20b minute.
The diameter db of the aperture 30 on the second surface 20b is desirably smaller than the wavelength of the light incident on the aperture 30 in order to maximize the transmission intensity and obtain the highest resolution. That is, it is preferable that the opening on the emission side has a diameter smaller than the wavelength.
The shape of the opening 30 communicating from the first surface 20a to the second surface 20b may be formed in a tapered shape or a plurality of steps.
The thickness of the conductive film 20 is denoted by t, and the conductive film must be thick enough to be optically opaque. That is, it must be greater than the penetration thickness of the incident light.
1 and 2, an unsupported thin conductive film 20 is shown. That is, the conductive film 20 is not adjacent to or fixed to the support structure (substrate). However, in the present invention, the conductive film may be deposited on glass or quartz, and the thin conductive film 20 may be fixed to the substrate.
[0018]
When using a substrate, a periodic surface can be provided either on the exposed (air) surface or on the surface at the conductive film-substrate interface. When a periodic surface shape is provided on the conductive surface at the conductive film-substrate interface, for example, a negative of the pattern is formed on the substrate surface, and the conductive film is deposited on the substrate on which the negative pattern is formed. Thereby, a surface shape can be provided on the conductive film.
FIG. 3 shows an embodiment in which the surface shape 40 is a periodic array of depressions, FIG. 4 shows an embodiment in which the surface shape 40 is a one-dimensional periodic array of grooves, and FIG. 5 shows a case in which the surface shape 40 is concentric. Are shown below.
[0019]
Further, the openings 30 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-2 are circular, but without departing from the scope of the invention, these shapes could be changed to other shapes, such as slits, rectangles, or ellipses. can do. As described above, from the point of view of the present invention, in order to obtain a high resolution characteristic of a wavelength or less, it is preferable that the aperture on the emission side has a diameter smaller than the wavelength, and the aperture is a slit, a rectangle, or an ellipse. In this case, it is desirable that at least the length in the minor axis direction is smaller than the wavelength.
[0020]
Here, with respect to the period P of the plurality of openings or the surface shape, a preferable dimension in consideration of the surface plasmon mode will be described. Assuming that the wavelength of the incident light is λ and the period is P, the condition where the surface plasmon mode is effectively excited when the light is vertically incident on the conductive film is expressed by the following equation.
λ = P · (ε _m ε _d / (ε _m + ε _d )) ^1/2 (1)
Here, epsilon _m is the dielectric constant of the conductive film, epsilon _d represents the dielectric constant of the dielectric medium adjacent to the conductive film.
[0021]
For example, when silver is used as the conductive film and the period of the plurality of openings or the surface shape is 600 nm, a peak of the light transmission intensity appears at a wavelength of about 630 nm. When the period was set to 750 nm, a peak of the light transmission intensity appeared near the wavelength of 790 nm. This result can be explained as a phenomenon in which the light transmission intensity is enhanced by the surface plasmon mode on the air-side surface of silver when compared with the expression (1). By determining the period according to the wavelength of the light source used in this manner, light transmitted through the optical element can be suitably enhanced. Even if the period is not adjusted with respect to the wavelength of the light source as described above, light enhancement occurs if any periodic structure is provided.
Considering a realistic structure on the premise of actual production, for example, when one surface of a conductive film is air and the other surface is a base (substrate) supporting the conductive film, both sides are not necessarily required. It is possible that the same dielectric medium is not used. In that case, a periodic shape suitable for each dielectric medium may be formed based on the expression (1).
[0022]
Next, the operation of the optical element of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 6 shows the light transmittance when the opening shape is changed when an opening having a period of 600 nm is formed in a 100 nm-thick silver film that is not supported by the substrate. FIG. 6 shows a result in a case where the opening shape is controlled to be tapered, and the diameter of the opening on the incident side is changed from 100 nm to 300 nm while the opening on the emission side is kept at 100 nm. The light transmittance is a value obtained by standardizing the light transmittance as 1 when the aperture diameter on both the entrance side and the exit side at the wavelength at which the transmitted light is maximum is 100 nm. It can be seen that the light transmittance shows a remarkable increase as the diameter of the opening on the incident side increases.
[0023]
The opening was formed by focused ion beam (FIB) processing, and the shape of the opening was controlled by the FIB processing. First, the beam is scanned in accordance with a predetermined aperture pattern while minimizing the beam aperture diameter of the FIB. By setting this as one set and repeating this set a plurality of times, it is possible to form an opening communicating from the front surface to the back surface. Here, by narrowing the beam scanning range for each repetition set, it is possible to obtain an opening shape in which the opening diameter on the back surface is smaller than the opening diameter on the front surface.
The opening shape can be made smaller in a tapered shape or stepwise by setting the beam scanning time in one set and the total number of sets to appropriate values.
[0024]
FIG. 7 shows the light transmittance when an opening having a period of 600 nm is formed by FIB processing in a 300-nm thick silver film formed on a glass substrate. The diameter of the opening was changed from 150 nm to 400 nm while the diameter of the opening on the emission side was kept at 150 nm. For the light transmittance, the value at the wavelength at which the transmitted light is maximum is extracted from the transmission spectrum, and the value is standardized assuming that the light transmittance is 1 when both the entrance and exit apertures are 150 nm. did. It can be seen that the light transmittance shows a remarkable increase as the diameter of the opening on the incident side increases.
[0025]
The optical element of the present invention can be widely applied to nanophotonics, for example, an optical filter capable of selecting a wavelength, a photolithography mask, a condensing device, and the like. Further, the optical element of the present invention exerts the same effect by providing a periodic surface shape for at least one aperture, and can be applied to a microscope probe or an optical head.
[0026]
FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of an optical head constituted by using the optical element of the present invention. The “optical recording medium” used in the description of the present embodiment means any medium on which data is written or read using light, and is not limited to a phase change medium. When the medium is a magneto-optical material, writing may be performed optically and reading may be performed magnetically instead of optically.
The optical head 200 in FIG. 8 is formed on a slider shape for floating the optical head to a predetermined height by rotating the optical recording medium 150. The laser light emitted from the laser 80 was introduced via the optical fiber 100 and collimated by arranging a collimator lens 60 composed of a microlens. Further, the collimated light changes the optical path in the right angle direction by the total reflection mirror 70, and is guided to the optical element 10 according to the present invention by the focus lens 50 placed thereunder.
[0027]
Next, an embodiment of an optical recording / reproducing apparatus using the optical head of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 9 shows an optical recording / reproducing apparatus 300. The optical recording / reproducing apparatus 300 includes an optical recording medium 340 rotated by a rotation axis 310, a suspension 320 that rotatably supports the optical head 200 about the rotation axis, and a head actuator 330 that rotates the suspension 320. By rotating the optical recording medium 340 at a high speed, the optical head 200 located at the tip of the suspension 320 flies and travels while maintaining the distance between the surface of the optical element 10 and the optical recording medium 340 at 100 nm or less. It is possible to record information at a high density without any information.
[0028]
In order to reproduce the information recorded on the optical recording medium, in the optical head of FIG. 8, by forming a photodetector on the surface of the conductive film 30 on the optical recording medium side, the reflected light from the medium can be read. .
[0029]
Further, a method is also possible in which the optical head of the present invention is a recording-only head, and a reproducing head is placed opposite to the optical recording head with the medium interposed therebetween to detect light transmitted through the medium. Further, a magneto-optical recording medium may be used as an optical recording medium, and a magnetic flux leaking from the medium may be reproduced by a head using a magnetoresistance effect.
[0030]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the present invention relates to a conductive film in which openings of wavelengths or less are periodically arranged, or an optical element including a conductive film having openings of wavelengths or less and a periodic surface shape. By making the opening diameter larger than the opening diameter on the emission side, there is an effect of significantly increasing the emission light while keeping the size of the light spot of the emission light small.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the optical element of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of a first surface diagram 2 (A) and a second surface diagram 2 (B) of a conductive film in the optical element shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of a first surface diagram (A) and a second surface diagram (B) of a conductive film in another optical element of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a plan view of a first surface diagram (A) and a second surface diagram (B) of a conductive film in another optical element of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a plan view of a first surface diagram (A) and a second surface diagram (B) of a conductive film in another optical element of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a graph showing the correlation between the aperture diameter on the emission side and the light transmittance of the optical element according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a graph showing the correlation between the aperture diameter on the emission side and the light transmittance of the optical element according to the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the optical head of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an embodiment of an optical recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 10 optical element 20 conductive film 20a first surface 20b second surface 30 opening 40 surface shape 50 focus lens 60 collimator lens 70 total reflection mirror 80 laser 100 optical fiber 150 optical recording medium 200 optical head 300 optical recording / reproducing device 310 Rotating shaft 320 Suspension 330 Head actuator 340 Optical recording medium

Claims (19)

A conductive film having a first surface and a second surface, wherein a plurality of openings communicating from the first surface to the second surface are periodically provided; An optical element, wherein the intensity of light transmitted through the optical element is increased compared to the case where the aperture is not periodic,
An optical element, wherein an opening diameter of the opening on the first surface side is larger than an opening diameter of the second surface side. At least one opening communicating with the first surface from the first surface to the second surface, and at least one of the first and second surfaces is provided periodically on at least one of the first and second surfaces. An optical element, in which the intensity of light incident on the first surface and transmitted through the opening of the conductive film having a curved surface shape is enhanced as compared to a case without the surface shape,
An optical element, wherein an opening diameter of the opening on the first surface side is larger than an opening diameter of the second surface side. 3. The optical element according to claim 1, wherein an opening diameter of the opening on the side of the second surface is smaller than a wavelength of the incident light. 3. The optical element according to claim 1, wherein an opening communicating from the first surface to the second surface has a tapered opening diameter. The optical element according to claim 1, wherein the shape of the opening communicating from the first surface to the second surface is formed by a plurality of steps. 3. The optical element according to claim 1, wherein the shape of the opening on the side of at least one of the first and second surfaces in the opening is circular. The optical element according to claim 1, wherein the shape of the opening on the side of at least one of the first and second surfaces in the opening is a slit shape. 3. The optical element according to claim 1, wherein the shape of the opening on the side of at least one of the first and second surfaces in the opening is rectangular. 3. The optical element according to claim 1, wherein the shape of the opening on the side of at least one of the first and second surfaces in the opening is elliptical. 3. The optical element according to claim 2, wherein the surface shapes are periodically arranged around the opening. The optical element according to claim 2, wherein the surface shape is formed concentrically. The optical element according to claim 2, wherein the periodic surface shape is formed on both the first and second surfaces, and each has a different period length. 13. An optical head for recording at least information on an optical recording medium by light from a light source, wherein the optical element according to any one of claims 1 to 12, a waveguide means for guiding output light of the light source, and the waveguide means. Means for condensing the output light of the optical element on the light condensing part of the optical element, wherein an opening on the second surface side of the optical element is disposed close to the optical recording medium. Light head. 14. The light according to claim 13, wherein a slider shape is formed for at least recording information on the optical recording medium by light from a light source, and for floating the optical recording medium to a predetermined height from the surface of the optical recording medium by rotation of the optical recording medium. A head, wherein the waveguide means is an optical fiber;
The condensing means includes a lens that collimates the light emitted from the optical fiber, a right-angle prism that deflects the optical axis of the collimated light at a right angle, and a lens that condenses the collimated light to the light-collecting unit,
The optical head according to claim 1, wherein the second surface of the conductive film is substantially flush with the slider-shaped floating surface. 13. An optical head for recording / reproducing information on / from an optical recording medium by light from a light source, wherein the optical element according to any one of claims 1 to 12, waveguide means for guiding output light from the light source, and said waveguide means. Means for condensing the output light of the optical element on the condensing portion of the optical element, and a light receiving element for receiving reflected light from the optical recording medium near the opening of the optical element, wherein the opening of the optical element is An optical head, which is disposed close to an optical recording medium. 14. The light according to claim 13, wherein a slider shape for recording / reproducing information on / from an optical recording medium by light from a light source and floating above the optical recording medium surface to a predetermined height by rotation of the optical recording medium is formed. Head
The waveguide means is an optical fiber,
The condensing unit has a lens that collimates the light emitted from the optical fiber, a right-angle prism that deflects the optical axis of the collimated light at a right angle, and a lens that condenses the collimated light to the condensing unit,
A light receiving element that receives light reflected from the optical recording medium near the opening on the second surface of the conductive film,
The optical head according to claim 1, wherein the second surface of the conductive film is substantially flush with the slider-shaped floating surface. An optical recording / reproducing apparatus that records information on an optical recording medium by light from a light source, and records / reproduces information by an optical head that reproduces information recorded on the optical recording medium by reflected light from the recording medium.
17. An optical recording / reproducing apparatus, wherein the optical head is the optical head according to claim 15 or 16. An optical recording / reproducing apparatus comprising a recording optical head and a reproducing optical head, and recording / reproducing information on / from an optical recording medium,
The optical head for recording is the optical head according to claim 13, wherein:
An optical recording / reproducing apparatus, wherein the reproducing optical head is an optical head that receives and transmits light transmitted through the optical recording medium. An optical recording and reproducing apparatus that includes a recording head and a reproducing head and records and reproduces information on and from an optical recording medium.
The optical recording medium is a magneto-optical recording medium,
The recording head is the optical head according to claim 13 or 14,
An optical recording / reproducing apparatus, wherein the reproducing head is a magnetic head using a magnetoresistance effect for detecting a leakage magnetic flux of the magneto-optical recording medium.

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