Diode laser optical recording using trilayer structures

A new high-power diode laser and a more sensitive trilayer disk structure useful for FM video and digital data recording have been demonstrated. The diode laser is a constricted double-heterojunction large optical cavity (CDH-LOC) device capable of up to 100 mW output power in a single stable mode. By improving the thermal efficiency of the trilayer structure, the sensitivity is improved by a factor of two over previously reported trilayer structures. Digital signals with data rates up to 30 Mbits/s and storage capacity in excess of bits are demonstrated using a plastic 12 in diameter disk rotating at 30 r/s while digital systems with data rates up to 60 Mbits/s and storage capacity in excess of 10¹¹bits are shown to be feasible.