ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses theory, simulations, and practical implementation for beam-shaping techniques used in optical data storage. It describes the simulation and experimental parameters, such as the type of test patterns and storage media. The chapter also describes the optical system transfer function and how it relates to optical data storage devices. It also describes beam-shaping filters, including illumination-path filters, return-path filters, electronic filters, and filter combinations. Signal quality in an optical storage device depends greatly on the optical system transfer function that is used to read data patterns. Simulations are performed in the optiscan quasi-vector diffraction work environment. The system used to collect experimental data was designed to work with magneto-optic (MO) media. The chapter discusses the results obtained with MO media can be considered similar to those obtained with other commercial media, such as compact discs (CDs) and digital versatile discs (DVDs).
