Magneto-optical recording method and magneto-optical recording medium used in the same.

摘要

Light beams having two different power levels are radiated on a magneto-optical medium having a recording layer (1) and a bias layer (2) magnetostatically coupled to the recording layer (1), thereby recording and erasing information. Upon radiation of a high level beam, a beam irradiated portion of the recording layer (1) is heated to reach a magnetization reversal temperature, and the direction of magnetization of the irradiated portion follows a direction of a leakage field generated by a magnetization distribution formed by heating of the bias layer (2). Upon radiation of a low level beam, a beam irradiated portion of the recording layer (1) is heated to reach a magnetization reversal temperature to cause the bias layer (2) to generate a leakage field having a magnitude smaller than that upon radiation of the high level beam. In this case, the direction of magnetization of the recording layer (1) is opposite to that of the leakage field obtained upon radiation of the high level beam. The directions of magnetization of the bias layer (2) are kept unchanged before and after the radiation of the high level beam and before and after the radiation of the low level beam. <IMAGE>