Patent ID: 6018511
Filing Date: 2000-01-25
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
A magneto-optical recording medium comprising at least a readout magnetic film and a recording magnetic film on a substrate, wherein information is recorded onto the recording magnetic film through magnetization of the recording magnetic film thereby forming domains therein, by a heating caused by irradiation of a recording light and application of a recording magnetic field, and the recorded information is read out through irradiation of a readout light thereby copying magnetization of the domains in the recording magnetic film to domains formed in the readout magnetic film, and wherein:the recording magnetic film is a perpendicular magnetic film in which the formed domains are retained;the readout magnetic film is a perpendicular magnetic film having a magnetic characteristic in which said domains formed therein shrink; andthe readout magnetic film has a unidirectional magnetization and contains no domains formed therein at a timing except for during a readout operation.