An optical system for reading and recording data on a media includes a laser source for generating a laser beam; an optical subsystem for splitting the laser beam into a reference beam and an object beam; and first and second lens for receiving the reference beam and object beam, respectively, and focusing the reference and object beams at a focal point on the media at which the reference beam and object beam interfere with each other. The reference beam and the object beam have first and second optical path lengths defined from the laser source to the focal point of the media. The optical subsystem is positioned so that an optical path length difference between the first and second optical path lengths is substantially equal to an integer multiple of an interference revival period associated with the reference beam and the object beam, the interference revival period associated with peak values of visibility of the interference versus the optical path difference.