Magneto-optical memory apparatus having a floating magnetic head

A magneto-optical memory apparatus comprising:

• light beam irradiation means for applying a light to a substrate of a recording medium having at least a recording film formed on the substrate;
• said light irradiation means continuously applying a high power laser beam in a recording mode;
• magnetic field application means arranged on the opposite side of the recording medium to the side of an optical head for applying, in the recording mode, a magnetic field polarity-inverted or intensity-modulated in accordance with recording information to be recorded to the recording film;
• a spacing between said magnetic field application means and said recording medium being kept substantially constant during operation only by an air pressure created between said magnetic field application means and said recording medium by the movement of said recording medium.

A magneto-optical disk apparatus comprising:

• a rotation mechanism for rotating a magneto-optical disk;
• an optical head for applying a light to a substrate of said magneto-optical disk and producing a laser beam of a predetermined power in a recording mode;
• a magnetic field application means including modulation means and magnetic head arranged on the opposite side of said magneto-optical disk to the side of said optical head for generating, in the recording mode, a magnetic field substantially perpendicular to the disk plane and modulated with a frequency of at least 2 MHz;
• a spacing between said magnetic head and said magneto-optical disk being kept essentially constant only by an air pressure created by the rotation of said magneto-optical disk;
• and
• a transport mechanism for supporting said magnetic head and transporting said magnetic head with said optical head radially of said magneto-optical disk.