Patent ID: 6608799
Filing Date: 2003-08-19
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
A magnetooptical reproducing apparatus for reproducing information recorded on a magnetooptical recording medium by detecting movement of a domain wall of a recording domain of the magnetooptical recording medium caused to move in accordance with a temperature distribution formed in the magnetooptical recording medium, the magnetooptical reproducing apparatus comprising:an optical system that directs an optical beam to the magnetooptical recording medium to form a temperature distribution in the magnetooptical recording medium, the optical system satisfying a condition of 2Wo<900 nm, where 2Wo is a beam waist diameter of the optical beam; a drive mechanism that moves the optical beam and the recording medium relative to one another; and a signal reproducing circuit that generates a reproduction signal in response to detected variations in the optical beam reflected from the magnetooptical recording medium.