Optical recording medium and method of recording and reproducing information thereon

摘要

An optical tape including an optical recording layer for permitting information to be optically recorded thereon and a light-reflective magnetic layer. The light-reflective magnetic layer which reflects light projected onto the recording layer, also permits magnetic recording or magneto-optical recording to be performed thereon, thereby increasing a storage capacity of the optical tape remarkably. Further, the optical tape is provided with a layer to form guiding grooves for tracking control. The layer to form guiding grooves is made up of ultraviolet-hardening resin, photo-resist, or a photochromic material. For example, in the case of using ultraviolet-hardening resin, after a guiding groove pattern has been exposed by projecting an ultraviolet ray on a layer made up of ultraviolet-hardening resin, the exposed areas harden to form areas corresponding to guiding grooves between those exposed areas. The guiding grooves are formed by-removing the areas corresponding to guiding grooves from the layer made up of the ultraviolet-hardening resin. Additionally, along with a guiding groove pattern, an index pattern can also be exposed. The guiding grooves thus formed do not reduce the recording density for information of the optical tape.