Generation of nanosized optical beams by use of butted gratings with small numbers of periods.

We have devised an optical high-throughput nanosized beam-generating structure consisting of butted gratings with small numbers of periods. We analyzed the structure of these grating by the transverse resonance method. We then demonstrated that it is possible to achieve a beam spot of 45 nm x 60 nm (FWHM) with this structure for the optical heads used in ultrahigh-density recording, such as those used in laser-assisted magnetic recording storage.

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