Abstract

Optical data storage, which is currently based on small discrete optical components, has already established a place for itself in the computer data storage hierarchy. Optical storage offers high storage density, removability, and archival readonly and read/write functionality. It is in the area of read/write applications where comparable performance to magnetic data storage is expected from magneto-optical data storage systems. Integrated optics technology offers a reduction of optical head cost, size, mass, manufacturing complexity, and critical alignment tolerances by means of migration from the assembly of miniature but discrete optical components to planar-processed, self-aligned integrated optical elements. After a brief description of a generic discrete component magnetooptical head, recent developments in the area of integrated optical head concepts will be reviewed. Antiresonant reflecting optical waveguide (ARROW) structures and a crossed-grating structure for performing magneto-optical (MO) polarization detection will be presented. The issues of waveguide and grating fabrication, efficient waveguide and detector coupling, and packaging and integration challenges will be discussed.

© 1992 Optical Society of America