A compact recording and reproducing apparatus includes a floating-type head movable in a fan shape in parallel with the surface of a disk recording medium in order to make faster access to the tracks and to record information at a higher density. A slider and a head are secured to the tip of a swing arm capable of fan-shaped swing movement, and a solid immersion lens is used for the head, so that the light beam can be passed along the arm from the fulcrum at the rotating pivot of the swing arm member.