US20010001607A1 - Information recording and reproducing apparatus and method of recording and reproducing information using solid immersion lens having super resolution film deposited thereon - Google Patents

Information recording and reproducing apparatus and method of recording and reproducing information using solid immersion lens having super resolution film deposited thereon Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US20010001607A1
US20010001607A1 US09/761,186 US76118601A US2001001607A1 US 20010001607 A1 US20010001607 A1 US 20010001607A1 US 76118601 A US76118601 A US 76118601A US 2001001607 A1 US2001001607 A1 US 2001001607A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
recording
film
super resolution
energy beam
reproducing
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US09/761,186
Inventor
Yasushi Miyauchi
Kimio Nakamura
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to US09/761,186 priority Critical patent/US20010001607A1/en
Publication of US20010001607A1 publication Critical patent/US20010001607A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
    • G11B7/00—Recording or reproducing by optical means, e.g. recording using a thermal beam of optical radiation by modifying optical properties or the physical structure, reproducing using an optical beam at lower power by sensing optical properties; Record carriers therefor
    • G11B7/12—Heads, e.g. forming of the optical beam spot or modulation of the optical beam
    • G11B7/122—Flying-type heads, e.g. analogous to Winchester type in magnetic recording
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
    • G11B7/00—Recording or reproducing by optical means, e.g. recording using a thermal beam of optical radiation by modifying optical properties or the physical structure, reproducing using an optical beam at lower power by sensing optical properties; Record carriers therefor
    • G11B7/12—Heads, e.g. forming of the optical beam spot or modulation of the optical beam
    • G11B7/135—Means for guiding the beam from the source to the record carrier or from the record carrier to the detector
    • G11B7/1353—Diffractive elements, e.g. holograms or gratings
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
    • G11B7/00—Recording or reproducing by optical means, e.g. recording using a thermal beam of optical radiation by modifying optical properties or the physical structure, reproducing using an optical beam at lower power by sensing optical properties; Record carriers therefor
    • G11B7/12—Heads, e.g. forming of the optical beam spot or modulation of the optical beam
    • G11B7/135—Means for guiding the beam from the source to the record carrier or from the record carrier to the detector
    • G11B7/1372—Lenses
    • G11B7/1374—Objective lenses
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
    • G11B7/00—Recording or reproducing by optical means, e.g. recording using a thermal beam of optical radiation by modifying optical properties or the physical structure, reproducing using an optical beam at lower power by sensing optical properties; Record carriers therefor
    • G11B7/12—Heads, e.g. forming of the optical beam spot or modulation of the optical beam
    • G11B7/135—Means for guiding the beam from the source to the record carrier or from the record carrier to the detector
    • G11B7/1387—Means for guiding the beam from the source to the record carrier or from the record carrier to the detector using the near-field effect
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
    • G11B7/00—Recording or reproducing by optical means, e.g. recording using a thermal beam of optical radiation by modifying optical properties or the physical structure, reproducing using an optical beam at lower power by sensing optical properties; Record carriers therefor
    • G11B7/12—Heads, e.g. forming of the optical beam spot or modulation of the optical beam
    • G11B7/135—Means for guiding the beam from the source to the record carrier or from the record carrier to the detector
    • G11B7/1372—Lenses
    • G11B2007/13727—Compound lenses, i.e. two or more lenses co-operating to perform a function, e.g. compound objective lens including a solid immersion lens, positive and negative lenses either bonded together or with adjustable spacing

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an information recording and reproducing method and apparatus capable of recording or reproducing FM-modulated analog codes, such as image and voice signals and digital information, for example, data used in computers, facsimile signals and digital audio signals by using a recording beam such as laser light in real time.
  • FM-modulated analog codes such as image and voice signals and digital information
  • digital information for example, data used in computers, facsimile signals and digital audio signals by using a recording beam such as laser light in real time.
  • the optical recording has however the limitation such that a diameter of a recording bit is about 500 nm due to the diffraction of light.
  • the diffractive limitation is directly proportional to a wavelength of light and inversely proportional to a numerical aperture (NA) of a lens. Accordingly, an orientation for high-density recording is to shorten the wavelength of light and increase the numerical aperture of an objective lens.
  • a method of manufacturing a recording medium involves a method of forming a super-resolution film on a recording film.
  • a solid immersion lens is used to attain a large numerical aperture, so that a smaller spot diameter is obtained as compared with that of a conventional optical lens.
  • the principle thereof is now described.
  • the solid immersion lens is provided by polishing a spherical lens made of transparent material and having a large refractive index n into a hemisphere, for example. Laser light concentrated by an objective lens then becomes focused on the polished surface or flat surface. The velocity of laser light in the solid immersion lens slows by the refractive index and the wavelength thereof is shortened to 1/n.
  • the diffractive limitation in the solid immersion lens reduces to 1/n as compared with a usual value.
  • the numerical aperture (NA) of the objective lens can increase by n times. In this time, the numerical aperture increases within the solid immersion lens, although when the laser light passes through the solid immersion lens into air, the diameter of the beam spot thereof returnes to the former diameter again.
  • the laser light is transmitted to the sample while the wavelength thereof maintains to 1/n as compared with the wavelength ⁇ of an incident light and accordingly the resolution increases with n times. That is, the diffractive limitation reduced to 1/n as compared with the usual value can be obtained.
  • a super resolution film is formed in an optical head to thereby be able to attain higher-density recording. Further, the super resolution film is formed in a solid immersion lens (SIL) to thereby be able to attain higher-density recording.
  • the super resolution film is a film that functions to make smaller a diameter of a beam spot emitted from the super resolution film than a diameter of a spot of an incident beam when the incident beam entering the super resolution film emits therefrom. The degree that the diameter of the beam spot is made small is different depending on kinds of the super resolution film used.
  • the super resolution film is often formed in a flat portion (for example, a polished bottom surface) of the solid immersion lens.
  • photochromic material is mainly used and the multiphoton absorption, the photobleaching, the saturated absorption and the like thereof are utilized.
  • the multiphoton absorption there may be used material having no light absorption for a wavelength of a one-photon and having light absorption in an energy region of a two-photon (a half of a wavelength of the one-photon). Since the reaction of the two-photon absorption is effected with a square of the light intensity, an optically changed area is a squared shape of a spot size of the irradiation light. From a different viewpoint, the wavelength may be replaced with the light intensity and the absorption may be replaced with the transmission.
  • the transmissivity of the multiphoton absorption film does not change in a weak light intensity while the two-photon absorption occurs in a sufficiently strong light intensity and the transmissivity increases in that area.
  • the multiphoton absorption film involves a film containing DANS (4-dimethylamino-4′-nitrostilbene) or N-methylaniline or P-nitroaniline or the like or acrylic resin or the like.
  • the photobleaching film produces the optical reaction to effect photobleaching progressively so that light transmits the film at the irradiation portion of light having the strong intensity and does not effect photobleaching progressively so that light does not transmit the film at the irradiation portion of light having the weak intensity.
  • the photobleaching film may use material having the characteristic that when laser light is irradiated thereto a degree of exceeding a certain threshold, the coloring matter or pigment in the base level disappears, so that the material does not absorb light any longer as a saturable absorption film.
  • the material involves phthalocyanine or naphthalocyanine pigment or the like.
  • the super resolution film has been disposed on the side of the sample (recording medium side) and used for the super resolution reproduction mainly.
  • the super resolution film is disposed on the side of the lens to thereby be able to apply the present invention to the super resolution recording without limitation to the super resolution reproduction. It is a matter of course that the super resolution film is formed in the solid immersion lens to thereby be able to attain higher density recording and furthermore the super resolution film is also disposed on the side of the sample to thereby be able to attain still higher density recording.
  • the super resolution film used in the present invention a film (reversible film) having the transmissivity in the middle portion of a portion, to which an energy beam is irradiated, of the super resolution film, the transmissivity being increased when the energy beam is irradiated thereto and being reduced when the irradiation is stopped, it is preferable in the problem of control in recording and reproduction since the transmissivity in the middle portion of the portion to which the energy beam is irradiated is always increased even if any positional shift of the beam occurs.
  • the film (non-reversible film) having the transmissivity in the middle portion being left increased even when the irradiation of the beam is stopped may be used if necessary.
  • the pin hole film when the beam is deviated from the pin hole, recording and reproduction cannot be performed, while there is the merit that the pin hole film can be manufactured inexpensively and easily.
  • the reversible film is advantageous in that recording or reproduction can be always performed.
  • a lubricant may be provided between the solid immersion lens and the sample if necessary.
  • the lubricant is preferably made of the same material as that of the solid immersion lens.
  • the recording and reproducing apparatus used in the present invention comprises a unit including a laser provided therein and for focusing a beam emitted from the laser on the super resolution film formed in the solid immersion lens by means of an objective lens, a unit for controlling a space between the super resolution film surface of the solid immersion lens and the sample, and a unit for rotating the recording medium.
  • the apparatus may comprise a unit including two lasers having different wavelengths and for performing recording by irradiation of light emitted from one laser and reproduction by irradiation of light emitted from the other laser if necessary.
  • the present invention can be applied to not only a disk-shaped recording medium but also other recording media having other shapes such as a card.
  • the present invention can be applied to not only recording and reproduction in a completed disk but also cutting of the original disk in manufacture of the disk.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a recording and reproducing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a plane portion of a solid immersion lens (SIL).
  • SIL solid immersion lens
  • FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a recording and reproducing system in the embodiment.
  • a laser beam 4 emitted by a semiconductor laser (wavelength 410 nm) is incident on a flying head 3 including a solid immersion lens (SIL) 1 and an objective lens 2 formed integrally.
  • the laser beam 4 is focused on a flat surface 5 of the solid immersion lens 1 .
  • a super resolution film 6 is formed in the flat surface (flat portion) 5 of the solid immersion lens.
  • a distance between the flying head (optical head) 3 and a disk 7 is as close as about 100 nm (near-field area). The distance is controlled in accordance with a shape of the flying head and a rotational number of the disk 7 to be maintained to a substantially constant distance.
  • FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a recording and reproducing system in the embodiment.
  • a diameter ( ⁇ ) of a beam spot on the flat surface 5 of the solid immersion lens is expressed by the following equation, where the refractive index of the solid immersion lens is n, the wavelength of the laser is ⁇ and the numerical aperture of the objective lens is NA.
  • the diffractive limitation reduced to 1/n as compared with the usual value can be obtained.
  • the solid immersion lens 1 is formed into a super hemisphere by cutting only a part of a sphere with a plane while leaving the most part of the sphere, so that the diameter of the beam can be further reduced to ⁇ /n 2 .
  • a multiphoton absorption film is used as the super-resolution film 6 .
  • acrylic resin is used to form it to 100 nm.
  • the acrylic resin has no light absorption at a wavelength in the vicinity of 410 nm which is a wavelength of a one-photon and has the light absorption at a wavelength in the vicinity of 205 nm corresponding to an energy region (wavelength equal to one half the wavelength of the one photon) of a two-photon. Since the reaction of the two-photon absorption is effected with a square of the light intensity, an optically changed area is a squared shape of a spot size of the irradiation light. Further, since the reaction of a three-photon absorption is effected with the cube of the light intensity, an optically changed area is a cubed shape of the spot size of the irradiation light.
  • the diameter of the spot in the case of only the solid immersion lens is 100%
  • the diameter of the spot at 1/e 2 in the embodiment becomes about 74% for the two-photon absorption and about 61% for the three-photon absorption when the spot emerges from the multiphoton absorption film.
  • the acrylic resin is used for the multiphoton absorption film, while even when a film containing DANS (4-dimethylamino-4′-nitrostilbene) or N-methylaniline or P-nitroaniline or the like is used therefor, similar effects can be attained.
  • the film having the photobleaching such as the water soluble diazonium salts sometimes has the transmissivity at its middle portion left to be high even when irradiation of the beam is stopped, although there is no problem since the diameter of the spot irradiated on the disk is left to be small.
  • a pin hole film having a hole smaller than the beam incident on the super absorption film which is previously formed in the vicinity of the center of the incident beam is used, similar effects can be attained.
  • the diameter of the beam spot can be made smaller than one in the prior art, so that the high-density recording and reproducing can be attained.
  • the recording and reproducing apparatus and a disk for example, a magneto-optical disk to which the magnetic super resolution technique (MSR) can be applied
  • a super resolution film provided with a super resolution film can be used in combination to attain the higher-density recording and reproducing.
  • recording and reproducing is made by means of a single laser, while even when recording and reproducing is made by using two lasers having different wavelengths, similar effects can be attained.
  • the distance between the super resolution film formed in the flat surface of the solid immersion lens and a recording film surface of the disk is as close as about 100 nm in order to use the near-field.
  • the space portion may be filled with a transparent lubricant.
  • the lubricant is made of the same material as the solid immersion lens.
  • the recording and reproducing apparatus used in the present invention comprises at least means for mounting a laser to focusing a beam emitted by the laser on the super resolution film formed in the solid immersion lens by means of an objective lens, means for controlling a space between the super resolution film surface of the solid immersion lens and the sample, and means for rotating a recording medium.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Optical Head (AREA)
  • Optical Recording Or Reproduction (AREA)

Abstract

An information recording and reproducing apparatus includes an optical head having a super resolution film formed therein. The optical head includes a laser for producing an energy beam, a lens for focusing the energy beam and a super resolution film disposed in a position on which the energy beams is focused by the lens, whereby recording and reproducing of high-density information is attained.

Description

    BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  • The present invention relates to an information recording and reproducing method and apparatus capable of recording or reproducing FM-modulated analog codes, such as image and voice signals and digital information, for example, data used in computers, facsimile signals and digital audio signals by using a recording beam such as laser light in real time. [0001]
  • Recently, the high-density recording technique using the optical recording has developed actively with its capacity increased. The optical recording has however the limitation such that a diameter of a recording bit is about 500 nm due to the diffraction of light. The diffractive limitation is directly proportional to a wavelength of light and inversely proportional to a numerical aperture (NA) of a lens. Accordingly, an orientation for high-density recording is to shorten the wavelength of light and increase the numerical aperture of an objective lens. Further, there is a method of utilizing the optical phenomenon independent of the diffractive limitation as another method. A method of manufacturing a recording medium involves a method of forming a super-resolution film on a recording film. Further, in an optical head, an attention is paid to a near-field in light recently as a method of pushing forward the above methods. For example, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,121,256, a solid immersion lens (SIL) is used to attain a large numerical aperture, so that a smaller spot diameter is obtained as compared with that of a conventional optical lens. The principle thereof is now described. The solid immersion lens is provided by polishing a spherical lens made of transparent material and having a large refractive index n into a hemisphere, for example. Laser light concentrated by an objective lens then becomes focused on the polished surface or flat surface. The velocity of laser light in the solid immersion lens slows by the refractive index and the wavelength thereof is shortened to 1/n. That is, the diffractive limitation in the solid immersion lens reduces to 1/n as compared with a usual value. From a different viewpoint, it may be stated that the numerical aperture (NA) of the objective lens can increase by n times. In this time, the numerical aperture increases within the solid immersion lens, although when the laser light passes through the solid immersion lens into air, the diameter of the beam spot thereof returnes to the former diameter again. However, when a distance between the flat surface corresponding to a bottom surface of the solid immersion lens and a sample (such as a recording film of a disk) is shortened to 200 nm or less (near-field), the laser light is transmitted to the sample while the wavelength thereof maintains to 1/n as compared with the wavelength λ of an incident light and accordingly the resolution increases with n times. That is, the diffractive limitation reduced to 1/n as compared with the usual value can be obtained. [0002]
    • SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
  • It is an object of the present invention to provide an information recording and reproducing method and apparatus capable of realizing higher-density recording or reproducing. [0003]
  • According to the present invention, a super resolution film is formed in an optical head to thereby be able to attain higher-density recording. Further, the super resolution film is formed in a solid immersion lens (SIL) to thereby be able to attain higher-density recording. The super resolution film is a film that functions to make smaller a diameter of a beam spot emitted from the super resolution film than a diameter of a spot of an incident beam when the incident beam entering the super resolution film emits therefrom. The degree that the diameter of the beam spot is made small is different depending on kinds of the super resolution film used. In addition, the super resolution film is often formed in a flat portion (for example, a polished bottom surface) of the solid immersion lens. As super resolution film of the present invention, photochromic material is mainly used and the multiphoton absorption, the photobleaching, the saturated absorption and the like thereof are utilized. For the multiphoton absorption, there may be used material having no light absorption for a wavelength of a one-photon and having light absorption in an energy region of a two-photon (a half of a wavelength of the one-photon). Since the reaction of the two-photon absorption is effected with a square of the light intensity, an optically changed area is a squared shape of a spot size of the irradiation light. From a different viewpoint, the wavelength may be replaced with the light intensity and the absorption may be replaced with the transmission. For example, the transmissivity of the multiphoton absorption film does not change in a weak light intensity while the two-photon absorption occurs in a sufficiently strong light intensity and the transmissivity increases in that area. The multiphoton absorption film involves a film containing DANS (4-dimethylamino-4′-nitrostilbene) or N-methylaniline or P-nitroaniline or the like or acrylic resin or the like. Furthermore, the photobleaching film produces the optical reaction to effect photobleaching progressively so that light transmits the film at the irradiation portion of light having the strong intensity and does not effect photobleaching progressively so that light does not transmit the film at the irradiation portion of light having the weak intensity. Water soluble diazonium salts or fluorine diarylethene (FC-124) or the like may be used for the photobleaching film. In addition, the photobleaching film may use material having the characteristic that when laser light is irradiated thereto a degree of exceeding a certain threshold, the coloring matter or pigment in the base level disappears, so that the material does not absorb light any longer as a saturable absorption film. The material involves phthalocyanine or naphthalocyanine pigment or the like. As described above, since the transmissivity in the middle portion of the irradiation beam increases, the beam transmits only this area. Consequently, the diameter of the beam spot is made small apparently (super resolution phenomenon). [0004]
  • Further, even when a pin hole film having a hole formed therein and smaller than a diameter of an incident beam is disposed on a bottom surface of the solid immersion lens instead of the super resolution film, similar effects can be attained. As document JP-A5-234117 discloses the similar technique with respect to utilization of the pin hole, while in the present invention the film having the pin hole formed therein must be used in order to dispose the pin hole film on the bottom surface of the solid immersion lens. [0005]
  • The super resolution film has been disposed on the side of the sample (recording medium side) and used for the super resolution reproduction mainly. In the present invention, the super resolution film is disposed on the side of the lens to thereby be able to apply the present invention to the super resolution recording without limitation to the super resolution reproduction. It is a matter of course that the super resolution film is formed in the solid immersion lens to thereby be able to attain higher density recording and furthermore the super resolution film is also disposed on the side of the sample to thereby be able to attain still higher density recording. [0006]
  • When there is used, as the super resolution film used in the present invention, a film (reversible film) having the transmissivity in the middle portion of a portion, to which an energy beam is irradiated, of the super resolution film, the transmissivity being increased when the energy beam is irradiated thereto and being reduced when the irradiation is stopped, it is preferable in the problem of control in recording and reproduction since the transmissivity in the middle portion of the portion to which the energy beam is irradiated is always increased even if any positional shift of the beam occurs. However, the film (non-reversible film) having the transmissivity in the middle portion being left increased even when the irradiation of the beam is stopped may be used if necessary. In the case of the pin hole film, when the beam is deviated from the pin hole, recording and reproduction cannot be performed, while there is the merit that the pin hole film can be manufactured inexpensively and easily. The reversible film is advantageous in that recording or reproduction can be always performed. [0007]
  • Even when there is used, as super resolution film, a film having the transmissivity in the middle portion of a portion, to which the energy beam is irradiated, of the super resolution film being changed when the energy beam is irradiated thereto, similar effects can be attained. In this case, when the refractive index in the case where a beam (wavelength λ) is not irradiated to the film is n, it is preferable that a thickness of the film is about λ/2n. [0008]
  • Further, a lubricant may be provided between the solid immersion lens and the sample if necessary. The lubricant is preferably made of the same material as that of the solid immersion lens. [0009]
  • The recording and reproducing apparatus used in the present invention comprises a unit including a laser provided therein and for focusing a beam emitted from the laser on the super resolution film formed in the solid immersion lens by means of an objective lens, a unit for controlling a space between the super resolution film surface of the solid immersion lens and the sample, and a unit for rotating the recording medium. Further, the apparatus may comprise a unit including two lasers having different wavelengths and for performing recording by irradiation of light emitted from one laser and reproduction by irradiation of light emitted from the other laser if necessary. [0010]
  • In addition, the present invention can be applied to not only a disk-shaped recording medium but also other recording media having other shapes such as a card. [0011]
  • Furthermore, the present invention can be applied to not only recording and reproduction in a completed disk but also cutting of the original disk in manufacture of the disk. [0012]
    • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a recording and reproducing system according to an embodiment of the present invention; and [0013]
  • FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a plane portion of a solid immersion lens (SIL). [0014]
    • DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
  • The present invention is now described in detail with reference to an embodiment. [0015]
  • FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a recording and reproducing system in the embodiment. A [0016] laser beam 4 emitted by a semiconductor laser (wavelength 410 nm) is incident on a flying head 3 including a solid immersion lens (SIL) 1 and an objective lens 2 formed integrally. The laser beam 4 is focused on a flat surface 5 of the solid immersion lens 1. Further, a super resolution film 6 is formed in the flat surface (flat portion) 5 of the solid immersion lens. In addition, a distance between the flying head (optical head) 3 and a disk 7 is as close as about 100 nm (near-field area). The distance is controlled in accordance with a shape of the flying head and a rotational number of the disk 7 to be maintained to a substantially constant distance. FIG. 2 shows the flat portion of the flying head in enlarged scale. A diameter (Φ) of a beam spot on the flat surface 5 of the solid immersion lens is expressed by the following equation, where the refractive index of the solid immersion lens is n, the wavelength of the laser is λ and the numerical aperture of the objective lens is NA.
  • Φ≈(1/n)×(λ/NA)
  • That is, the diffractive limitation reduced to 1/n as compared with the usual value can be obtained. Further, the [0017] solid immersion lens 1 is formed into a super hemisphere by cutting only a part of a sphere with a plane while leaving the most part of the sphere, so that the diameter of the beam can be further reduced to Φ≈λ/n2. In the embodiment, a multiphoton absorption film is used as the super-resolution film 6. Definitely, acrylic resin is used to form it to 100 nm. The acrylic resin has no light absorption at a wavelength in the vicinity of 410 nm which is a wavelength of a one-photon and has the light absorption at a wavelength in the vicinity of 205 nm corresponding to an energy region (wavelength equal to one half the wavelength of the one photon) of a two-photon. Since the reaction of the two-photon absorption is effected with a square of the light intensity, an optically changed area is a squared shape of a spot size of the irradiation light. Further, since the reaction of a three-photon absorption is effected with the cube of the light intensity, an optically changed area is a cubed shape of the spot size of the irradiation light. It is assumed that the diameter of the spot in the case of only the solid immersion lens is 100%, the diameter of the spot at 1/e2 in the embodiment becomes about 74% for the two-photon absorption and about 61% for the three-photon absorption when the spot emerges from the multiphoton absorption film.
  • In the embodiment, the acrylic resin is used for the multiphoton absorption film, while even when a film containing DANS (4-dimethylamino-4′-nitrostilbene) or N-methylaniline or P-nitroaniline or the like is used therefor, similar effects can be attained. [0018]
  • Furthermore, even when photochromic material such as a photobleaching film (water soluble diazonium salts or fluorine diarylethene (FC-124) or the like) utilizing the photobleaching or a saturated absorption film (naphthalocyanine pigment or the like) is used as the super-resolution film instead of the multiphoton absorption film, similar effects can be attained. In this case, the film having the photobleaching such as the water soluble diazonium salts sometimes has the transmissivity at its middle portion left to be high even when irradiation of the beam is stopped, although there is no problem since the diameter of the spot irradiated on the disk is left to be small. Further, even when a pin hole film having a hole smaller than the beam incident on the super absorption film which is previously formed in the vicinity of the center of the incident beam is used, similar effects can be attained. [0019]
  • As described above, by forming the super absorption film in the flat surface of the solid immersion lens, the diameter of the beam spot can be made smaller than one in the prior art, so that the high-density recording and reproducing can be attained. [0020]
  • Further, the recording and reproducing apparatus and a disk (for example, a magneto-optical disk to which the magnetic super resolution technique (MSR) can be applied) provided with a super resolution film can be used in combination to attain the higher-density recording and reproducing. [0021]
  • In the embodiment, recording and reproducing is made by means of a single laser, while even when recording and reproducing is made by using two lasers having different wavelengths, similar effects can be attained. [0022]
  • The distance between the super resolution film formed in the flat surface of the solid immersion lens and a recording film surface of the disk is as close as about 100 nm in order to use the near-field. The space portion may be filled with a transparent lubricant. Specifically, it is preferable that the lubricant is made of the same material as the solid immersion lens. [0023]
  • The recording and reproducing apparatus used in the present invention comprises at least means for mounting a laser to focusing a beam emitted by the laser on the super resolution film formed in the solid immersion lens by means of an objective lens, means for controlling a space between the super resolution film surface of the solid immersion lens and the sample, and means for rotating a recording medium. [0024]

Claims (17)

What is claimed is:
1. A method of recording and reproducing information in a recording medium by irradiation of an energy beam, wherein an optical head having a super resolution film formed therein is used.
2. An information recording and reproducing method according to
claim 1
, wherein photochromic material is used for said super resolution film.
3. An information recording and reproducing method according to
claim 2
, wherein a film having the transmissivity in the middle portion of a portion, to which said energy beam is irradiated, of said super resolution film, said transmissivity being increased when said energy beam is irradiated thereto and being reduced when the irradiation is stopped is used as said super resolution film.
4. An information recording and reproducing method according to
claim 2
, wherein a multiphoton absorption film is used as said super resolution film.
5. An information recording and reproducing method according to
claim 2
, wherein a photobleaching film is used as said super resolution film.
6. An apparatus for recording and reproducing information in a recording medium by irradiation of an energy beam, comprising an optical head having a super resolution film formed therein.
7. An information recording and reproducing apparatus according to
claim 6
, wherein said optical head comprises a laser for producing said energy beam, a lens for focusing said energy beam, and a super resolution film disposed in a position on which said energy beam is focused by said lens.
8. A method of recording and reproducing information in a recording medium by irradiation of an energy beam, using a solid immersion lens (SIL) including a super resolution film formed in a bottom surface thereof.
9. An information recording and reproducing method according to
claim 8
, wherein photochromic material is used for said super resolution film.
10. An information recording and reproducing method according to
claim 9
, wherein a film having the transmissivity in the middle portion of a portion, to which said energy beam is irradiated, of said super resolution film, said transmissivity being increased when said energy beam is irradiated thereto and being reduced when the irradiation is stopped is used as said super resolution film.
11. An information recording and reproducing method according to
claim 9
, wherein a multiphoton absorption film is used as said super resolution film.
12. An information recording and reproducing method according to
claim 9
, wherein a photobleaching film is used as said super resolution film.
13. An apparatus for recording and reproducing information in a recording medium by irradiation of an energy beam, comprising a solid immersion lens (SIL) including a super resolution film formed in a bottom surface thereof.
14. An information recording and reproducing apparatus according to
claim 13
, further comprising a laser for producing said energy beam and a lens for focusing said energy beam, and
wherein said solid immersion lens focuses said energy beams from said lens on said super resolution film.
15. A method of recording and reproducing information in a recording medium by irradiation of an energy beam, wherein a solid immersion lens (SIL) including a pin hole film formed in a bottom surface thereof and in which a hole smaller than an incident energy beam is formed is used.
16. An apparatus for recording and reproducing information in a recording medium by irradiation of an energy beam, comprising a solid immersion lens (SIL) including a pin hole film formed in a bottom surface thereof and in which a hole smaller than an incident energy beam is formed.
17. An information recording and reproducing apparatus according to
claim 16
, further comprising a laser for producing said energy beam and a lens for focusing said energy beam, and
wherein said solid immersion lens focuses said energy beams from said lens on said hole of said pin hole film.
US09/761,186 1997-11-25 2001-01-18 Information recording and reproducing apparatus and method of recording and reproducing information using solid immersion lens having super resolution film deposited thereon Abandoned US20010001607A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US09/761,186 US20010001607A1 (en) 1997-11-25 2001-01-18 Information recording and reproducing apparatus and method of recording and reproducing information using solid immersion lens having super resolution film deposited thereon

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP32265397 1997-11-25
JP09-322653 1997-11-25
US19714598A 1998-11-20 1998-11-20
US09/761,186 US20010001607A1 (en) 1997-11-25 2001-01-18 Information recording and reproducing apparatus and method of recording and reproducing information using solid immersion lens having super resolution film deposited thereon

Related Parent Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US19714598A Continuation 1997-11-25 1998-11-20

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20010001607A1 true US20010001607A1 (en) 2001-05-24

Family

ID=18146108

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US09/197,445 Expired - Fee Related US6298029B1 (en) 1997-11-25 1998-11-23 Information recording and reproducing apparatus and methods of recording and reproducing information using solid immersion lens having super resolution film deposited thereon
US09/761,186 Abandoned US20010001607A1 (en) 1997-11-25 2001-01-18 Information recording and reproducing apparatus and method of recording and reproducing information using solid immersion lens having super resolution film deposited thereon

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US09/197,445 Expired - Fee Related US6298029B1 (en) 1997-11-25 1998-11-23 Information recording and reproducing apparatus and methods of recording and reproducing information using solid immersion lens having super resolution film deposited thereon

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (2) US6298029B1 (en)
EP (1) EP0919993A3 (en)
KR (1) KR19990045450A (en)
CN (1) CN1218254A (en)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20050057736A1 (en) * 2003-09-11 2005-03-17 Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. Method and apparatus for multiphoton-absorption exposure wherein exposure condition is changed with depth of convergence position
US20050116207A1 (en) * 2003-09-11 2005-06-02 Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. Multi-photon absorber medium and method of exposure using the same
GB2451803B (en) * 2007-06-28 2010-06-09 Toshiba Res Europ Ltd An optical retrieval system, data storage system, data storage medium and method of optical retrieval and data storage
KR101211845B1 (en) * 2010-11-17 2012-12-12 연세대학교 산학협력단 holographic storage device using solid immersion lens, storage method and recording method using the same

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6154326A (en) 1998-03-19 2000-11-28 Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Optical head, disk apparatus, method for manufacturing optical head, and optical element
JP2000326300A (en) * 1999-03-17 2000-11-28 Seiko Instruments Inc Near field light head, its manufacture and light record reproducing device using this near field light head
KR100317283B1 (en) * 1999-04-15 2001-12-22 구자홍 apparatus for optical recording/reading using near field
JP2005532656A (en) * 2002-07-10 2005-10-27 コーニンクレッカ　フィリップス　エレクトロニクス　エヌ　ヴィ Optical recording and reading system, optical data storage medium, and use of said medium
KR100601700B1 (en) * 2004-08-25 2006-07-14 삼성전자주식회사 Super resolution information storage medium, method and apparatus for recording and/or reproducing data on/from the same

Family Cites Families (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH06215408A (en) 1992-09-09 1994-08-05 Nec Corp Laser aligner
US5529864A (en) 1993-12-16 1996-06-25 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Optical recording medium having mask layer
US5497359A (en) * 1994-08-30 1996-03-05 National Business Machines Corporation Optical disk data storage system with radiation-transparent air-bearing slider
EP0713216B1 (en) 1994-11-15 2001-10-17 Nec Corporation Optical head device utilizing super-resolution technique
US5729393A (en) * 1996-04-03 1998-03-17 Digital Papyrus Corporation Optical flying head with solid immersion lens having raised central surface facing medium
TW409248B (en) * 1996-05-01 2000-10-21 Terastor Corp Flying head with solid immersion lens
JPH1011756A (en) * 1996-06-24 1998-01-16 Sanyo Electric Co Ltd Optical operation method for optical device, and optical control device
US5883872A (en) 1997-05-29 1999-03-16 The Board Of Trustees Of The Leland Stanford Junior University Near field magneto-optical recording system employing slit illumination
JPH10340482A (en) * 1997-06-09 1998-12-22 Hitachi Ltd Optical information recording medium

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20050057736A1 (en) * 2003-09-11 2005-03-17 Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. Method and apparatus for multiphoton-absorption exposure wherein exposure condition is changed with depth of convergence position
US20050116207A1 (en) * 2003-09-11 2005-06-02 Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. Multi-photon absorber medium and method of exposure using the same
US7241550B2 (en) 2003-09-11 2007-07-10 Fujifilm Corporation Method and apparatus for multiphoton-absorption exposure wherein exposure condition is changed with depth of convergence position
US20080272346A1 (en) * 2003-09-11 2008-11-06 Fujifilm Corporation Multi-Photon Absorber Medium and Method of Exposure Using the Same
GB2451803B (en) * 2007-06-28 2010-06-09 Toshiba Res Europ Ltd An optical retrieval system, data storage system, data storage medium and method of optical retrieval and data storage
US20100232279A1 (en) * 2007-06-28 2010-09-16 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Optical retrieval system, data storage system, data storage medium and method of optical retrieval and data storage
US8537649B2 (en) 2007-06-28 2013-09-17 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Optical retrieval system, data storage system, data storage medium and method of optical retrieval and data storage
KR101211845B1 (en) * 2010-11-17 2012-12-12 연세대학교 산학협력단 holographic storage device using solid immersion lens, storage method and recording method using the same

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
KR19990045450A (en) 1999-06-25
EP0919993A2 (en) 1999-06-02
EP0919993A3 (en) 1999-12-01
CN1218254A (en) 1999-06-02
US6298029B1 (en) 2001-10-02

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US5125750A (en) Optical recording system employing a solid immersion lens
US5883872A (en) Near field magneto-optical recording system employing slit illumination
US5381394A (en) Optical pickup for an optical disc player
US6320841B1 (en) Slider for optical head
US6298029B1 (en) Information recording and reproducing apparatus and methods of recording and reproducing information using solid immersion lens having super resolution film deposited thereon
US5930434A (en) Optical disc data storage system using optical waveguide
JP3929528B2 (en) Improved optically readable recording disk
KR20020064822A (en) Near field recording/reproducing optical head
JPH0773506A (en) Optical recording medium and its reproducing device
EP0074157B1 (en) Optical data store
JPWO2003052756A1 (en) Optical information reproducing method, optical head device, and optical information processing device
JPH11250501A (en) Medium and method for information recording
JPH0793797A (en) Optical head and disk device using the same
JP3522938B2 (en) Optical disk signal recording / reproducing method
JP3826684B2 (en) Recording / reproducing apparatus using plasmons and manufacturing method thereof
CN100399441C (en) Optical recording medium as well as optical recording and reproduction method
KR100641092B1 (en) Near-field recording and reproducing system
JPH11224433A (en) Optical recording or reproducing method for information and optical recording or reproducing device
Huang et al. Near-field recording head with simple tracking design
JPH0573961A (en) High-density optical recording medium having molten mask layer
US6938266B2 (en) Write-once optical recording medium with ZnO near-field optical interaction layer
KR100604027B1 (en) Writing/Reading apparatus and method for phase change disk
JP2001143260A (en) Information recording and reproducing method and disk used for it
JPH11296917A (en) Manufacture of optical disk master disk and master disk manufacturing device
JP2000222760A (en) Recording or reproducing method of information, and recording or reproducing device

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION