Optical recording system using an integrated solid immersion lens

Nobody doubts that the high area density recording and miniaturization of the devices in the data storage are in the general trend. What matters now is how to compact the data in a small area and how to decrease the device size. For the last decade, a lot of researchers engaged in the optical memory have expected the near-field recording (NFR) technology to be able to bring the remarkable results. However, they have been confronted with many obstacles including heat, contamination, dynamics of optical head in the unsealed environment, etc. In this paper, we propose the new concept of a solid immersion lens (SIL) with a potential to be able to resolve the critical issues on the way to the commercialization of the high areal density optical recording using the near-field recording technology.