A magnetooptical recording medium and information recording and reproducing methods using the recording medium.

摘要

A magnetooptical recording medium includes a first magnetic layer in which data is to be stored, and a second magnetic layer. The first magnetic layer is a perpendicular magnetization film at both room temperature and raised temperatures. The second magnetic layer is a perpendicular or in-plane magnetization film at room temperature and changed to an in-plane or perpendicular magnetization film at raised temperatures. A recording method includes, for example, a step of projecting a light spot on the recording medium from the side of the second magnetic layer, a step of changing only a high-temperature area within a light spot projection portion of the second magnetic layer to an in-plane or perpendicular magnetization film, and a step of detecting information stored in the first magnetic layer by detecting a reflective light from the recording medium. The reflective light is influenced by magneto-optic effect of the perpendicular magnetization film portion.