Optical recording head having a solid immersion lens

A method for fabricating a plurality of optical heads, comprising:

• processing a substrate to form a plurality of voids through the substrate;
• placing a sphere of optically transparent material within each of said voids such that a desired portion of each said sphere protrudes from a surface of said substrate;
• securing each said sphere to sidewalls of each said voids;
• removing at least a portion of said desired protruded portion of each sphere to form a near-field lens;
• forming a mesa optically coupled to a portion of said near field lens;
• forming a coil around said mesa;
• and
• slicing said substrate to form said plurality of optical heads.