NEAR FIELD TYPE OPTICAL STORAGE MEDIUM AND OPTICAL DATA STORAGE SYSTEM FOR THIS PURPOSE

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a near field type optical storage medium and an optical data storage system having a converging optical system for this purpose. SOLUTION: The optical data storage system writes and reads the information to and from the optical storage medium 68 by utilizing an optical pickup having a solid immersion lens or solid immersion optical system 64 which generates near fields. The optical storage medium 68 has a recording layer placed on the other surface opposite to the one surface of an optical transmissible layer facing the solid immersion lens or solid immersion optical system 64. The thickness of the optical transmissible layer is larger than the one wavelength of the light to be used and the spacing between the surfaces of the solid immersion lens (or solid immersion lens optical system 64) and the optical transmissible layer is smaller than the one wavelength of the light to be used.