Optical recording medium and method of manufacturing the same

摘要

A phase-change optical disc has a recording layer formed from a phase-change material switchable between a crystalline state and an amorphous state. The recording layer is illuminated signal-wise by a light is focused onto the recording layer to change the phase thereof from crystalline to amorphous, to thereby write an information signal onto the recording layer. The phase-change material contains a GeSbTe alloy. The recording layer is formed by sputtering in an Ar gas atmosphere containing at least either N2 or O2 gas or both. The optical recording medium exhibits improved durability after repeated recording and maintains a stable and good write/read characteristic even after repeated cycles of signal recording.