Magneto-optical recording medium and layer structure

Abstract

To provide a magneto-optical recording medium and a layer structure with which it becomes possible to effectively achieve an increase of a Kerr rotation angle and improvements of a recording sensitivity and a recording density by using a simple construction. A minute ruggedness structure is formed on a substrate and a magnetic layer is formed thereon. The ruggedness structure is reflected in the magnetic layer. With the reflected ruggedness structure, multiple reflection occurs to reproduction laser light. When multiple reflection occurs to reproduction laser light, a Kerr rotation action is superimposed each time reflection is repeated at the magnetic layer. As a result, an increasing effect on a Kerr rotation angle with respect to the reproduction laser light is expected. Also, with the ruggedness structure reflected in the magnetic layer, the surface area of the magnetic layer is increased. Therefore, temperature rise of the magnetic layer by laser light irradiation is promoted. In addition, an applied magnetic field is concentrated in the tip end portions of the ruggedness structure, so it becomes possible to increase the magnetic field strength of the tip end portions of the ruggedness structure. As a result, the recording sensitivity of the magnetic layer with respect to the laser light and the applied magnetic field is enhanced.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.