Method for forming aperture, near field optical head and method for fabricating the same and information recording/reading apparatus

A near field optical head comprising:

• a pointed tip;
• an aperture formed on a point of the tip;
• and
• an opaque film covering the tip, wherein at least a part of the opaque film near the aperture is plastically deformed.

A method for fabricating a near field optical head comprising the steps of:

• forming a tip of conical or pyramidal shape pointed toward a recording medium;
• forming a stopper having almost the same height as that of the tip;
• forming an opaque film on the tip;
• and
• forming an aperture on an apex of the tip by allowing a plate-like member covering the tip and at least a part of the stopper to come into contact with the tip to deform the opaque film near the apex of the tip.

An information recording/reading apparatus for recording or reading information utilizing a near field light, the apparatus comprising:

• a recording medium;
• a near field optical head having an aperture on a side of the recording medium;
• and
• a light guiding structure for guiding a luminous flux from a light source to the near field optical head, wherein the near field optical head has a tip of conical or pyramidal shape transparent to a light having a desired wavelength, an opaque film covering the tip, and an aperture formation mechanism.