Magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus having a ferrimagnetic recording medium, a magnetic head and first and second light sources

Abstract

A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus using a recording medium made of a ferrimagnetic material, comprises a magnetic head for magnetically recording information on a recording area of a selected information recording track on a recording medium having a plurality of tracks and for magnetically reproducing the information from the recording medium, the magnetic head has a width larger than that of the width of the selected information recording track of the recording medium. For recording, light beams are radiated from a first light source on the recording area of the selected information recording track upon which recording is to be performed tracks to raise the temperature of the irradiated area to approximately a Curie temperature so as to allow recording only on that area. For reproduction, light beams are radiated from another light source onto areas on both sides of on a second area of the recording medium, located on both sides of the selected information recording track, to raise the temperature of the second irradiated areas to approximately a magnetic compensation temperature so as to allow reproduction only from the desired track, thus preventing crosstalk from the side tracks.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.