Laser beam forming temperature distribution of two peaks on a magneto-optical recording medium

摘要

A method and apparatus for reproducing information on a magneto-optical recording medium can reproduce a signal having a period equal to or smaller than the diffraction limit of light at high speed, can obtain a reproduced signal with a high C/N ratio from a small recorded domain at an amplitude nearly equal to that of a large recorded domain, can greatly improve the recording density and transfer rate, and can also make the reproduction apparatus compact. The information reproduction method includes the steps of irradiating a laser beam onto a medium and forming a temperature distribution having at least two peaks by the laser beam. The apparatus has a laser light source and an optical system for irradiating a laser beam emitted by the light source onto the medium, wherein the laser beam forms the temperature distribution having at least two peaks.