Patent ID: 7132055

Claim:
A method of producing a near field optical head, comprising the steps of: providing a substrate having a surface and at least one protuberance extending from the surface; forming a parent film for an air bearing surface on the surface of the substrate so as to cover the protuberance, the parent film having a thickness greater than a height of the protuberance, and polishing a surface of the parent film to eliminate any concavo-convexity originating from the protuberance; etching the surface of the parent film until an apex of the protuberance and the surface of the parent film lie substantially on a common plane and the apex of the protuberance is exposed from the surface of the parent film while monitoring the existence/absence of the exposed apex of the protuberance; and etching the parent film using a patterned resist as an etching mask to form an air bearing surface.