An optical tape recording system utilizing a rotating optical head is
under development as a mass storage device suitable for recording tele
vision programs. High-quality moving pictures for broadcast require a
correspondingly high bit rate of over 100 megabits per second (Mbps) f
or recording. Toward the realization of such a high bit rate, recordin
g in parallel utilizing many laser beams is most effective. We propose
on optical system integrating a head thai is suitable for parallel re
cording on an optical tape with numerous laser beams. The: optical sys
tem assumes the role of keeping the: lateral magnification constant du
ring focusing. We studied the effectiveness of such an optical system
by the experimental construction of a four-beam optical head.