Patent ID: 7002891
Filing Date: 2006-02-21
Classification: G03H,G11B,G11C

Abstract:
1. An optical information recording apparatus for recording information in an optical information recording medium having an information recording layer in which information is recorded through the use of holography and one side of which is irradiated with light for recording or reproducing information, and a reflecting surface disposed on the other side of the information recording layer, the apparatus comprising: information light generation means for generating information light that carries information; recording-specific reference light generation means for generating recording-specific reference light; and a recording optical system for irradiating the information recording layer with the information light generated by the information light generation means and the recording-specific reference light generated by the recording-specific reference light generation means such that the information is recorded in the information recording layer in the form of an interference pattern resulting from interference between the information light and the recording-specific reference light, wherein the recording optical system projects the information light and the recording-specific reference light coaxially onto the one side of the information recording layer such that they converge on the reflecting surface, and the recording optical system causes each of the information light and the recording-specific reference light to have directions of polarization that are different between respective half areas of a cross section of a beam thereof such that the direction of polarization of the information light yet to impinge on the reflecting surface coincides with that of the recording-specific reference light reflected by the reflecting surface, and the direction of polarization of the recording-specific reference light yet to impinge on the reflecting surface coincides with that of the information light reflected by the reflecting surface.