Coating-type magnetic recording medium for heat-assisted recording, and heat-assisted magnetic recording apparatus and heat-assisted magnetic recording method using the same

A coating-type magnetic recording medium for heat-assisted recording, comprising:

• a non-magnetic support;
• and
• a magnetic layer containing magnetic particles,
• wherein a coercive force Hc of the magnetic layer in a thickness direction at 25° C. is 4100 oersteds (Oe) or more,
• the coercive force Hc of the magnetic layer in the thickness direction at a temperature between 55° C. and 80° C. inclusive is not less than 1200 oersteds (Oe) and not more than 3700 oersteds (Oe),
• the magnetic particles comprise ε-iron oxide represented by a general composition formula ε-MxFe2-xO3,
• in the general composition formula ε-MxFe2-xO3, M represents one or more elements other than Fe, and
• in the general composition formula ε-MxFe2-xO3, in a case where a molar ratio between M and Fe is represented by x/(2−x), the following relationships (1) to (3) are satisfied:
• (1) 0.4≤x/(2−x)≤0.9 is satisfied in a case where M represents a single element of Ga;
• (2) 0.1≤x/(2−x)≤0.18 is satisfied in a case where M represents three elements of Ti, Co, and Al;
• and
• (3) 0.1≤x/(2−x)≤0.30 is satisfied in a case where M represents three elements of Ti, Co, and Ga.