High density magneto-optical recording using solid immersion lens with magnetic field modulation

A near field optical technique based on combined supersphere solid immersion lens (SIL) with magnetic field modulation (MFM) recording is described. A better resolution is achieved by using SIL with MFM recording in comparison with light intensity modulation. A recorded mark as small as 0.3 /spl mu/m/spl times/0.2 /spl mu/m could successfully be detected. These marks were readout by the SIL head with a typical signal to noise ratio value of 36 dB. The present study demonstrates the capability to achieve a very high areal density beyond 20 Gb/in/sup 2/.