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Optical field study of near-field optical recording with a solid immersion lens
F Guo1, T E Schlesinger, D D Stancil
1Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA.
Applied Optics
|March 14, 2008
Summary
A novel method analyzes optical fields in solid immersion lenses (SILs) for optical recording. This technique accurately models field decay and oscillations in multilayer media, crucial for high-density storage.
Area of Science:
- Optical Engineering
- Materials Science
- Data Storage Technologies
Background:
- Solid immersion lenses (SILs) are vital for enhancing areal density in optical recording systems.
- Accurate modeling of optical fields is essential for optimizing SIL performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an approximate analytical method for optical fields in SILs.
- To analyze fields above both homogeneous and multilayered recording media.
- To explain observed phenomena in optical recording systems.
Main Methods:
- An approximate analytical method was developed to analyze optical fields.
- The method incorporates both propagating and evanescent field components.
- A closed-form expression was derived for intensity decay above a half-space.
Main Results:
- The model accurately describes optical field distribution below the SIL.
- It provides an approximate closed-form expression for intensity decay.
- It explains oscillations in Kerr rotation and ellipticity for multilayer media.
Conclusions:
- The presented approximate method effectively analyzes optical fields in SILs.
- The model elucidates the role of standing waves in observed optical recording phenomena.
- This work contributes to the advancement of high-density optical data storage.
