Abstract text

A hologram recording and reproducing device controls an optical beam output from an external cavity semiconductor laser to improve a diffraction efficiency. The hologram recording and reproducing device includes an external cavity laser, a photodiode, a laser drive circuit and a laser diode controller. The external cavity laser has a laser diode adapted to emit an optical beam that is used to generate data light and reference light with which a hologram recording medium is irradiated. The photodiode detects the amount of the optical beam output from the external cavity laser. The laser drive circuit supplies a current to the external cavity laser. The laser diode controller controls the laser drive circuit to ensure that a value obtained by integrating the detected intensity of the optical beam with respect to time over a predetermined period is equal to predetermined recording energy.