Near-field fiber tip to handle high input power more than 150 mW

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].