A method for forming birefringent voxels comprises simultaneously generating a first seed pulse and a first data pulse. The first seed pulse and the first data pulse are spatially-separated laser pulses having different amplitudes. The first seed pulse is focused at a first seed location, and the data pulse is focused at a first data location. The first seed location and the first data location are separated by a predetermined distance along a scan path, with the first seed location being ahead of the first data location. Subsequently, a second seed pulse and a second data pulse are generated, and focused at a second seed location and second data location, respectively. The second seed and data locations are separated by the predetermined distance. The second data location is the same as the first seed location, resulting in formation of a birefringent voxel.

A method for forming birefringent voxels comprises simultaneously generating a first seed pulse and a first data pulse. The first seed pulse and the first data pulse are spatially-separated laser pulses having different amplitudes. The first seed pulse is focused at a first seed location, and the data pulse is focused at a first data location. The first seed location and the first data location are separated by a predetermined distance along a scan path, with the first seed location being ahead of the first data location. Subsequently, a second seed pulse and a second data pulse are generated, and focused at a second seed location and second data location, respectively. The second seed and data locations are separated by the predetermined distance. The second data location is the same as the first seed location, resulting in formation of a birefringent voxel.

An optical pickup device includes a semiconductor laser that emits a laser beam, and an object lens that concentrates the laser beam emitted from the semiconductor laser on an optical disc. In this optical pickup device, an optical axis of the object lens is inclined with respect to an optical axis of the laser beam that is incident on the object lens so as to generate flares caused by coma aberration on an entrance side in a forward direction of pits of the optical disc.

An optical information device and an optical information processing method which can perform high-speed and accurate positioning are provided. An optical information device which reproduces information from and/or records information on an optical information recording medium on which interference patterns between signal light and reference light are recorded as a hologram includes: an optical system which emits an optical beam; an aperture unit which passes at least a portion of reproduced light acquired when the optical beam from the optical system is radiated onto the optical information recording medium; a first detection unit which detects at least a portion of the reproduced light; a second detection unit which detects the position of the aperture unit; and a control unit which, based on a first signal acquired from the first detection unit and a second signal acquired from the second detection unit, controls the position of the aperture unit.

An optical information device and an optical information processing method which can perform high-speed and accurate positioning are provided. An optical information device which reproduces information from and/or records information on an optical information recording medium on which interference patterns between signal light and reference light are recorded as a hologram includes: an optical system which emits an optical beam; an aperture unit which passes at least a portion of reproduced light acquired when the optical beam from the optical system is radiated onto the optical information recording medium; a first detection unit which detects at least a portion of the reproduced light; a second detection unit which detects the position of the aperture unit; and a control unit which, based on a first signal acquired from the first detection unit and a second signal acquired from the second detection unit, controls the position of the aperture unit.

An image display device includes an image light generation unit configured to generate image light, a projection system optical unit configured to project the image light, a correction system optical unit configured to correct aberrations, a first diffraction element configured to deflect the image light incident on a first incident surface, and a second diffraction element configured to deflect the image light incident on a second incident surface. The projection system optical unit, the second diffraction element, the correction system optical unit, and the first diffraction element are arranged in this order in a direction of the image light emitted from the image light generation unit, and the image light deflected and dispersed into rays of respective wavelengths by the second diffraction element is focused by the first diffraction element.

An image display device includes an image light generation unit configured to generate image light, a projection system optical unit configured to project the image light, a correction system optical unit configured to correct aberrations, a first diffraction element configured to deflect the image light incident on a first incident surface, and a second diffraction element configured to deflect the image light incident on a second incident surface. The projection system optical unit, the second diffraction element, the correction system optical unit, and the first diffraction element are arranged in this order in a direction of the image light emitted from the image light generation unit, and the image light deflected and dispersed into rays of respective wavelengths by the second diffraction element is focused by the first diffraction element.

An optical storage system includes an optical head configured to split a light beam into a higher power main beam and at least one lower power side beam. The optical storage system also includes a controller configured to alter an optical medium, via modulation of the higher power main beam according to a writing strategy waveform that defines at least n pulses for every n bits of data to be written to the medium, while processing a first signal resulting from the at least one lower power side beam being reflected from the medium and a second signal indicative of the writing strategy waveform to remove noise from the first signal caused by the higher power main beam to generate output indicative of the data directly after writing.

A holographic characterization and playback apparatus is provided, which includes a light source, an optical path-forming optical system for separating the light emitted from the light source into a probe light and a reference light of different polarizations, and combining optical paths of the probe light and the reference light.

A holographic characterization and playback apparatus is provided, which includes a light source, an optical path-forming optical system for separating the light emitted from the light source into a probe light and a reference light of different polarizations, and combining optical paths of the probe light and the reference light.