Diffractive super-resolution elements applied to near-field optical data storage with solid immersion lens

The intensity distribution in near-field optical data storage with a solid immersion lens (SIL) and a binary phase-only diffractive super-resolution element (DSE) is expressed in a single definite integral by using angular spectrum theory. The super-resolution of binary two-zone phase DSEs for SIL systems is numerically studied for low and high numerical aperture (NA) systems. The results for the low-NA systems show that optimizing the zone boundary and phase of binary two-zone phase DSEs can decrease the spot size. The Strehl ratio, sidelobe intensity and axial characteristic length are also discussed. In addition, a binary two-zone phase filter can change the position of focus that shifts from the SIL–air interface to air, but the spot size increases. For the high-NA systems, the y- and z-polarized components of the transmitted field increase as the boundary and depth of phase of the DSE increase. When the phase boundary is smaller and the depth of phase depth is close to π, super-resolving effect of DSE is more obvious but the intensity of sidelobes is larger for the high-NA system. In this way, it may be possible to improve both the resolution and focal depth of the SIL with high-NA systems.