Abstract

The use of holographic optics technology in optical data storage offers a road map to realize an integrated optical head as well as to build a compact and cost-effective optical head. In 1987, the author and his colleagues first proposed and demonstrated an optical pickup using a multifunctional holographic optical element, which can be fabricated using photolithographic method, for CD players.¹ This is the result that they conquered double difficulties in holographic optical element use for optical disk heads, that is, low diffraction efficiency and large chromatic aberration. They also extended the function of holographic optical element as a polarizing element using a birefringent material and the ion exchange fabrication method.² The polarizing holographic optical element is now used in 5.25″ magneto-optical disk drive with 1.3 GB recording capacity as a key device. A prismless magneto-optical head has also been proposed applying an oblique angle incident polarizing holographic element. For the further advanced optical heads, hybrid integrated optical heads for thin magneto-optical disk drive have been proposed using the polarizing holographic element, in combining with the chip integration techniques.³ This paper will review these technology development including the basic ideas during the development and try to show the road map for the future integrated optical head.

© 1995 IEEE