A high-power near-field fiber tip is proposed and demonstrated. This high-p
ower tip can handle an optical power of greater than 150 mW injected into t
he fiber core, higher than any previous tip. The tip has a unique, thick, h
eat-conducting metal layer deposited by an electroplating process. The subw
avelength aperture of the tip is fabricated by the controlled lapping of th
e end face with in situ optical monitoring. We also demonstrate using this
tip to record on phase change and photoresist media. (C) 2000 American Inst
itute of Physics. [S0003-6951(00)03343-X].