Information recording medium, a method for manufacturing the same and a method for recording/reproducing information thereon

摘要

An information recording medium includes at least a recording layer formed on a substrate, the recording layer including a phase change layer in which a reversible phase change is caused between a crystalline state and an amorphous state by irradiation of a light beam, and a crystallization-ability improving layer for improving a crystallization ability of the phase change layer. The crystallization-ability improving layer is formed before the phase change layer is formed. Thus, crystal nucleus generation and crystal growth are caused during formation of the phase change layer, so that at least a portion of the phase change layer is in the crystalline phase after the formation. Thus, information signals can be recorded/reproduced at a high density and a high linear velocity, and thus the present invention provides a highly reliable optical information recording medium. Further, the present invention provides an information recording medium that allows a recording operation to be performed on the recording layer in the as-depo amorphous state without the initialization process.