Readout signal detection using a GaP near-field optical probe for optical data storage head

Near-Field Optical Data Storage

Dual-probe near-field fiber head with gap servo control for data storage applications.

We present a novel fiber-based near-field optical head consisting of a straw-shaped writing probe and a flat gap sensing probe. The straw-shaped probe with a C-aperture on the end face exhibits enhanced transmission by a factor of 3 orders of magnitude over a conventional fiber probe due to a hybrid effect that excites both propagation modes and surface plasmon waves. In the gap sensing probe, ...

Optical antenna: Towards a unity efficiency near-field optical probe

We demonstrate that an antenna can be used to realize a near-field optical probe that combines spatial resolution well below the diffraction limit with transmission efficiency approaching unity. The probe consists of a planar bow-tie antenna with an open-circuited gap at its apex. We present proof-of-principle measurements using microwave radiation and discuss scaling the antenna to the visible...

Near-field optical microscope using a silicon-nitride probe

Operation of an alternative near-field optical microscope is presented. The microscope uses a microfabricated silicon-nitride probe with integrated cantilever, as originally developed for force microscopy. The cantilever allows routine close contact near-field imaging on arbitrary surfaces without tip destruction. The effect of adhesion forces on the coupling to the evanescent wave has been obs...

Near-field scanning optical microscope probe analysis.

In this article results of a comparison of two NSOM probe characterization methods are presented. Scanning electron microscopy analysis combined with electromagnetic field modeling using the finite difference in time domain method are compared with measured far-field radiation diagrams of NSOM probes. It is shown that measurement of far-field radiation diagrams can be an efficient tool for dail...