Abstract
An optical pickup head for providing multi-dimensional multi-level (MDML) optical recording is proposed and designed according to the MDML optical recording concept which uses both intensity and polarization of light. Through dynamic testing separately with a commercial digital versatile disc rewritable (DVD-RW) disc and another disc with 0.6 mm planar substrate sputtered with magneto-optical film, the MDML optical pickup head has been proven to provide multi-level modulations of at least two physical properties of light to achieve MDML recording, e.g., multi-level reflective recording with two-level polarization recording. On the basis of the MDML optical pickup head, research on the MDML optical disc can be carried out. In addition to the MDML recording function, the MDML optical pickup head is compatible with DVD formats.