A read/write head for an optical storage medium is provided. The read/write head comprises a waveguide having an end face and a plasmon-enhanced device provided on the end face of the waveguide. The plasmon-enhanced device comprises a metal film having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface being fixed to the waveguide end fac e, the metal film having an aperture provided therethrough. The metal film has a periodic surface topography provided on at least one of the first and second surfaces of the metal film. Light incident on one of the surfaces of the metal film interacts with a surface plasmon mode on at least one of the surfaces of the metal film thereby enhancing transmission of light through the aperture in the met al film which is directed onto and/or collected from the optical storage medium. A read/write head wit h an integral light source is also provided. The invention also provides an array of precisely aligned read/write heads, and an array of precisely aligned read/write heads with integral light sources, as well as side- emitting lasers and vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) with enhanced transmission.
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