Near-field optical recording without low-flying heads: Integral near-field optical (INFO) media

The promise of near-field (NF) optics to increase the density in optical data storage, whether solid immersion lenses (SILs), apertures, or their variants, has not yet been fulfilled, largely because of the difficulties with the head-media interface at near-field dimensions. especially if removable media is a design goal. We introduce a new approach to NF optical storage, in which integral near-held optics (INFO), in the form of nano-cylinders, are formed in the media upon manufacture. Combining the advantages of near- and far-field optical data storage, we obtain double the track density of digital versatile discs (DVD) in removable rewritable (RW) phase change media. Potential for in-track density increase is also demonstrated, We briefly report on the modeling, manufacture, and performance of INFO media.