Magneto-optical recording medium and apparatus

A magneto-optical recording and reproducing apparatus comprising:

• an optical head for forming an optical spot on a magneto-optical disk having thereon a recording area in which concentric or spiral recording tracks are formed;
• first guide means for supporting and guiding therealong the optical head movably in a direction crossing the recording tracks in a movable range covering the recording area of the magneto-optical disk while maintaining a predetermined gap to the magneto-optical disk;
• first driving means for driving the optical head to move along the first guide means;
• a magnetic bias field generator disposed at a position opposite to the optical head across the magneto-optical disk for generating a magnetic field in an area in which the optical spot is formed;
• second guide means for supporting and guiding therealong the magnetic bias field generator movably in the direction crossing the recording tracks in a movable range covering the recording area of the magneto-optical disk independently of the movement of the optical head along the first guide means while maintaining a predetermined gap to the magneto-optical disk;
• second driving means for driving the magnetic bias field generator to move along the second guide means;
• detecting means for detecting a relative positional relationship between the optical head and the magnetic bias field generator and outputting a detection signal indicative of the relative positional relationship;
• and
• control means responsive to the detection signal from the detection means for controlling the relative positional relationship between the optical head and the magnetic bias field generator to obtain a predetermined relative positional relationship therebetween, position initializing means for initializing a position of the magnetic bias field generator to a reference position relative to the magneto-optical recording medium, wherein said control means controls said first driving means to move the optical head to be in the predetermined relative positional relationship to the magnetic bias field generator.