A laser beam output from a semiconductor laser light source 1 is
transmitted through a cover glass 2 in the optical axis Z direction, is
incident on a molded lens 4 in a state of divergent rays, is converted
into convergent rays by the molded lens 4, and is applied onto a
recording face 5 of the optical recording medium. A diaphragm 3 is
arranged. An area of each lens surface onto which a luminous flux of the
laser beam restricted by the diaphragm 3 is applied corresponds to an
effective area. The following expression (1) is satisfied:
d.sub.1-d.sub.0.gtoreq.0.04 mm (1) where d0 denotes an effective
aperture of one of the lens surfaces, and d1 denotes an outer diameter of
the one of the lens surfaces.