Patent ID: 7012874

Claim:
A method of recording information to an optical recording medium comprising a phase change material, said method comprising the steps of: applying energy having a spatial profile to said phase change material, said spatial profile defining a region of spatial overlap of said energy with said phase change material, said energy providing a temperature profile within said region of spatial overlap, said temperature profile defining a spatial distribution of temperatures, said spatial distribution including temperatures sufficient to permit formation of an amorphous phase in said region of spatial overlap; forming a mark coinciding with the portions of said spatial distribution having a temperature sufficient to form an amorphous phase, said mark comprising an amorphous phase, said amorphous phase forming upon cooling of said region of spatial overlap, said cooling releasing energy in excess of the energy required to form said amorphous phase; dissipating said excess energy to portions of said phase change material outside of the spatial region coinciding with said mark, said dissipating occurring at a rate sufficient to prevent formation of an amorphous phase in said portions outside of said mark.