High speed sub-micron bit detection using tapered aperture mounted optical slider flying above a patterned metal medium

Rapid advances in the development of the digital network society have necessitated both large capacity and higher data transfer rate for every type of digital storage equipment. Proximity optical recording based on the near-field interaction principle promises to provide breakthroughs in overcoming rigid optical diffraction limits and wave length shortening limits. We have previously presented a compact optical head assembly consisting of a combination of a pyramidal hole processed silicon slider and light-wave guide combined suspension. Attaining higher recording density requires both a much smaller sized aperture and a highly efficient laser power delivery mechanism. To satisfy these requirements, we have introduced a planar lens and tapered aperture processed optical slider, delivering laser power through a single mode optical fiber, and we have demonstrated sub-micron size (150–200 nm-long) bit signals at more than a 10 MHz frequency band.