title: Imaging of optical disc using reflection-mode scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscopy.
abstract: A phase-change optical disc was observed using a reflection-mode scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscope (RS-SNOM). In an a.c.-mode SNOM image, the 1.2 microm x 0.6 microm recording marks were successfully observed although the data were recorded on the groove. In contrast, no recording marks could be resolved in a d.c.-mode SNOM image. These results are in good agreement with those from a numerical simulation using the finite difference time domain method. The resolution was better than 100 nm with a.c.-mode SNOM operation and the results indicate that recording marks in phase-change optical media can be directly observed with the RS-SNOM.
authors.affiliation: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan. m_yamaguchi@ot.olympus.co.jp
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Konada
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Horikawa
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ebina
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Umezawa
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Horiguchi