Optical recording medium, method for manufacturing the same, sputtering target, method for using optical recording medium, and optical recording apparatus

An optical recording medium comprising:

• a substrate;
• a first protective layer;
• a recording layer;
• a second protective layer;
• and
• a reflective layer,
• the first protective layer, recording layer, second protective layer and reflective layer being disposed on the substrate in this order or in reverse order,
• wherein the recording layer comprises a composition expressed by the following Formula 2:
• (X1)αSbβ(X2)γ-Mδ <Formula 2>
• where X1 represents at least one element selected from Ga, Ge and In;
• X2 represents at least one element selected from Au, Ag and Cu;
• M represents at least one element selected from elements other than X1, Sb and X2 and mixtures of the elements other than X1, Sb and X2;
• and α, β, γ and δ represent atomic % of their respective elements (where 2≦α≦20, 55≦β≦95, 0<γ≦10, 0<δ≦40, and (α+β+γ+δ)=100).

A sputtering target used for the production of a recording layer, the sputtering target comprising:

• a composition expressed by the following Formula 1:
• (X1)αSbβ(X2)γ <Formula 1>
• where X1 represents at least one element selected from Ga, Ge and In;
• X2 represents at least one element selected from Au, Ag and Cu;
• and α, β and γ represent atomic % of their respective elements (where 2≦α≦20, 55≦β≦95, 0<γ≦10, and (α+β+γ)=100).

A sputtering target used for the production of a recording layer, the sputtering target comprising:

• a composition expressed by the following Formula 2:
• (X1)αSbβ(X2)γ-Mδ [Formula 2]
• where X1 represents at least one element selected from Ga, Ge and In;
• X2 represents at least one element selected from Au, Ag and Cu;
• M represents at least one element selected from elements other than X1, Sb and X2 and mixtures of the elements other than X1, Sb and X2;
• and α, β, γ and δ represent atomic % of their respective elements (where 2≦α≦20, 55≦β≦95, 0<γ≦10, 0<δ≦40, and (α+β+γ+δ)=100).

A method for manufacturing an optical recording medium, comprising:

• forming a recording layer with a sputtering method using a sputtering target,
• wherein the sputtering target comprises a composition expressed by the following Formula 1:
• (X1)αSbβ(X2)γ <Formula 1>
• where X1 represents at least one element selected from Ga, Ge and In;
• X2 represents at least one element selected from Au, Ag and Cu;
• and α, β and γ represent atomic % of their respective elements (where 2≦α≦20, 55≦β≦95, 0<γ≦10, and (α+β+γ)=100), and
• wherein the optical recording medium comprises:
• a substrate;
• a first protective layer;
• the recording layer;
• a second protective layer;
• and
• a reflective layer,
• the first protective layer, recording layer, second protective layer and reflective layer being disposed on the substrate in this order or in reverse order.

A method for manufacturing an optical recording medium, comprising:

• forming a recording layer with a sputtering method using a sputtering target,
• wherein the sputtering target comprises a composition expressed by the following Formula 2:
• (X1)αSbβ(X2)γ-Mδ [Formula 2]
• where X1 represents at least one element selected from Ga, Ge and In;
• X2 represents at least one element selected from Au, Ag and Cu;
• M represents at least one element selected from elements other than X1, Sb and X2 and mixtures of the elements other than X1, Sb and X2;
• and α, β, γ and δ represent atomic % of their respective elements (where 2≦α≦20, 55≦β≦95, 0<γ≦10, 0<δ≦40, and (α+β+γ+δ)=100), and
• wherein the optical recording medium comprises:
• a substrate;
• a first protective layer;
• the recording layer;
• a second protective layer;
• and
• a reflective layer,
• the first protective layer, recording layer, second protective layer and reflective layer being disposed on the substrate in this order or in reverse order.

A method for using an optical recording medium, comprising:

• applying a laser beam onto an optical recording medium from the first protective layer side to perform at least one of a recording operation, an erasing operation and a rewriting operation,
• wherein the optical recording medium comprises:
• a substrate;
• a first protective layer;
• a recording layer;
• a second protective layer;
• and
• a reflective layer,
• the first protective layer, recording layer, second protective layer and reflective layer being disposed on the substrate in this order or in reverse order,
• wherein the recording layer comprises a composition expressed by the following Formula 1:
• (X1)αSbβ(X2)γ <Formula 1>
• where X1 represents at least one element selected from Ga, Ge and In;
• X2 represents at least one element selected from Au, Ag and Cu;
• and α, β and γ represent atomic % of their respective elements (where 2≦α≦20, 55≦β≦95, 0<γ≦10, and (α+β+γ)=100).

A method for using an optical recording medium, comprising:

• applying a laser beam onto an optical recording medium from the first protective layer side to perform at least one of a recording operation, an erasing operation and a rewriting operation,
• wherein the optical recording medium comprises:
• a substrate;
• a first protective layer;
• a recording layer;
• a second protective layer;
• and
• a reflective layer,
• the first protective layer, recording layer, second protective layer and reflective layer being disposed on the substrate in this order or in reverse order,
• wherein the recording layer comprises a composition expressed by the following Formula 2:
• (X1)αSbβ(X2)γ-Mδ <Formula 2>
• where X1 represents at least one element selected from Ga, Ge and In;
• X2 represents at least one element selected from Au, Ag and Cu;
• M represents at least one element selected from elements other than X1, Sb and X2 and mixtures of the elements other than X1, Sb and X2;
• and α, β, γ and δ represent atomic % of their respective elements (where 2≦α≦20, 55≦β≦95, 0<γ≦10, 0<δ≦40, and (α+β+γ+δ)=100).

An optical recording apparatus for applying a laser beam onto an optical recording medium from a laser beam source to thereby perform at least one of a recording operation, an erasing operation and a rewriting operation on the optical recording medium,

• wherein the optical recording medium comprises:
• a substrate;
• a first protective layer;
• a recording layer;
• a second protective layer;
• and
• a reflective layer,
• the first protective layer, recording layer, second protective layer and reflective layer being disposed on the substrate in this order or in reverse order,
• wherein the recording layer comprises a composition expressed by the following Formula 1:
• (X1)αSbβ(X2)γ <Formula 1>
• where X1 represents at least one element selected from Ga, Ge and In;
• X2 represents at least one element selected from A, Ag and Cu;
• and α, β and γ represent atomic % of their respective elements (where 2≦α≦20, 55≦β≦95, 0<γ≦10, and (α+β+γ)=100).

An optical recording apparatus for applying a laser beam onto an optical recording medium from a laser beam source to thereby perform at least one of a recording operation, an erasing operation and a rewriting operation on the optical recording medium,

• wherein the optical recording medium comprises:
• a substrate;
• a first protective layer;
• a recording layer;
• a second protective layer;
• and
• a reflective layer,
• the first protective layer, recording layer, second protective layer and reflective layer being disposed on the substrate in this order or in reverse order,
• wherein the recording layer comprises a composition expressed by the following Formula 2:
• (X1)αSbβ(X2)γ-Mδ <Formula 2>
• where X1 represents at least one element selected from Ga, Ge and In;
• X2 represents at least one element selected from Au, Ag and Cu;
• M represents at least one element selected from elements other than X1, Sb and X2 and mixtures of the elements other than X1, Sb and X2;
• and α, β, γ and δ represent atomic % of their respective elements (where 2≦α≦20, 55≦β≦95, 0<γ≦10, 0<δ≦40, and (α+β+γ+δ)=100).