Optical recording medium and device for reproducing the same.

摘要

An optical recording medium (1, 50) includes: a substrate (2, 22, 52) on which information is recorded as phase pits, and a polarization state varying (3, 23, 53) layer for rotating a polarization state of a light beam irradiated thereon in accordance with a temperature distribution caused by irradiation of the light beam. A device (10, 10A, 10B, 10C) for reproducing information recorded on the optical recording medium includes: light irradiation unit (11) for irradiating a read-out light beam to produce a light spot on the optical recording medium so that a light intensity of the light beam at a first portion of the light spot is higher than a predetermined level, separation unit (12) for separating a component of light beam having a predetermined polarization state from a light beam reflected by the optical recording medium, light receiving unit (17a, 17b, 17c) for receiving the light beam separated by said separation unit and generating read-out signal, and reproducing unit (18, 18a, 18b) for reproducing information recorded on the optical recording medium on the basis of the read-out signal.