A near-field optical head applied for a head of an information recording/reading apparatus for realizing information recording and reading with high density recording medium at high speed and with reliability through interaction between a near-field light and a recording medium using a slider having a near-field optical probe. A slider (1) having a near-field optical probe is put into proximity to a recording medium (3). Further, a distance is reduced between a light emitting element (2) and a microscopic aperture (7). The microscopic aperture is controlled in protrusion amount from the recording medium (3) by a piezoelectric element. Due to this, the light intensity in the probe or light detecting section is increased to increase interaction with the recording medium (3). This realizes information recording and reading apparatus with high sensitivity and accuracy. IMAGE
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