Magneto-optical recording method of overwriting without requiring an initialization magnet

A magneto-optical recording method comprising the steps of:

• driving a magneto-optical memory device in a recording track direction, the memory device being provided with a base substrate having a magnetic thin film with perpendicular magnetization on which information is to be recorded and a bias magnetic film which are formed thereon, the magnetization direction of the bias magnetic film being arranged in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the magnetic thin film with perpendicular magnetization;
• forming an erased area having a magnetization arranged in a first direction to be determined by a magnetization direction of the bias magnetic film by projecting a light beam of a high intensity to the magnetic thin film with perpendicular magnetization, the high intensity being defined as an intensity for raising the temperature of the magnetic thin film with perpendicular magnetization above its Curie temperature;
• and
• forming a recording area having a magnetization arranged in an opposite direction to the first direction using a demagnetizing field generated only from the erased area formed directly before forming the recording area by projecting a light beam of a low intensity to an area whereon a light beam is to be projected next to the erased area as the recording track moves, the low intensity being defined as an intensity for lowering the temperature of the magnetic thin film with perpendicular magnetization from above its Curie temperature to below its Curie temperature.