Patent ID: 6178143
Filing Date: 2001-01-23
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
A magneto-optical recording medium including a readout layer which is in an in-plane magnetization state at room temperature and changes into a perpendicular magnetization state at temperatures not lower than a critical temperature, and a recording layer made of a perpendicular magnetization film which is magnetically coupled with said readout layer, said magneto-optical recording medium allowing reproduction of information recorded on said recording layer by application of a light beam to said readout layer,wherein said readout layer is heated to at least a temperature in the vicinity of a Curie temperature of said readout layer by the application of said light beam during reproduction andwherein said readout layer is made of an alloy represented by (Gd.sub.X1 Fe.sub.1-X1).sub.Y1 Al.sub.1-Y1 where X1 and Y1 satisfy conditions 0.28.ltoreq.X1.ltoreq.0.32, and 0.70.ltoreq.Y1.ltoreq.1.00.