Magnetic lens, magnetic reproducing element, reproducing apparatus and reproducing method

A reproducing apparatus for performing reproduction on a recording medium including a magnetic recording layer recorded with information as a recording magnetic domain, the reproducing apparatus comprising:

• an optical head for radiating a reproducing light beam onto the recording medium;
• and
• a magnetic head for being arranged closely to the recording medium, wherein:
• the magnetic head includes a magnetic transfer section composed of a magnetic material for transferring the recording magnetic domain thereto, and a reproducing section composed of a magnetic material and magnetically connected to the magnetic transfer section, the reproducing section having a width larger than the recording magnetic domain;
• and
• the reproducing light beam is radiated from the optical head onto the reproducing section of the magnetic head when the information is reproduced, and the reproducing light beam is used to reproduce magnetization information transferred from the recording magnetic domain to the reproducing section via the magnetic transfer section.

A reproducing method for performing reproduction on a recording medium including a magnetic recording layer recorded with information as a recording magnetic domain, the reproducing method comprising the steps of:

• providing a magnetic reproducing element comprising a magnetic transfer section composed of a magnetic material for transferring the recording magnetic domain thereto, and a reproducing section composed of a magnetic material and magnetically connected to the magnetic transfer section, the reproducing section having a width larger than the recording magnetic domain;
• arranging, upon the reproduction of the information, the magnetic reproducing element closely to the recording medium so that magnetization information on the recording magnetic domain is transferred to the magnetic transfer section of the magnetic reproducing element by the aid of a leak magnetic field from the recording magnetic domain in the recording medium;
• and
• radiating a reproducing light beam onto the reproducing section of the magnetic reproducing element to reproduce the magnetization information transferred from the recording magnetic domain to the reproducing section via the magnetic transfer section on the basis of a magneto-optical effect.