MAGNETO-OPTICAL RECORDING METHOD AND MAGNETO-OPTICAL MEMORY DEVICE

摘要

A magneto-optical recording method for rewriting of information includes the initial step of projecting a light beam, whose intensity varies in response to information to be recorded, onto a magnetic thin film with perpendicular magnetization while an external magnetic field of a constant intensity is applie d thereto. The magnetization direction of an irradiated area of the magnetic thin film with perpendicular magnetization is arranged in the direction of the external magnetic field when a light beam at high intensity is projected, while it is arr anged in the direction of a demagnetizing field, opposite to the direction of the exte rnal magnetic field generated by magnetization in the vicinity of the irradiated area , when a light beam of low intensity is projected. A magneto-optical memory element is provided with a base whereon the magnetic thin film with perpendicular magnetization and an in-plane magnetization film are formed. With the above arrangement, an overwriting operation can be carried out through light intensity modulation without requiring an initialization magnet.