Patent ID: 8107325

Claim:
A near-field light generating element comprising: a waveguide through which a light for exciting surface plasmon propagates; and a plasmon antenna comprising: a near-field light generating end for emitting near-field light; and a propagation surface or a propagation edge for causing surface plasmon excited by the light to propagate thereon, extending to said near-field light generating end, wherein an inclined portion of said propagation surface or said propagation edge on the near-field light generating end side extends so as to become closer to an end surface of said plasmon antenna toward said near-field light generating end, said end surface being on a side opposite to said propagation surface or said propagation edge, and a side surface of said waveguide extending to a neighborhood of said near-field light generating end, and a portion of said side surface on the near-field light generating end side being opposed to said propagation surface or said propagation edge with a predetermined distance so as for the light propagating through said waveguide to be coupled with said plasmon antenna in a surface plasmon mode.