Magneto-optical recording medium having intermediate layer of in-plane magnetization

A magneto-optical memory medium comprising:

• a recording layer made of perpendicularly magnetized film;
• a reproducing layer which has perpendicular magnetization at least within a signal reproducing domain, is magnetically coupled to said recording layer, and in which a reproducing magnetic domain, larger than recording magnetic domains of said recording layer, is created by projection of a light beam;
• and
• a magnetic masking layer adapted to suppress leakage of magnetic flux from the recording layer to the reproducing layer at room temperature, and which has in-plane magnetization at room temperature and perpendicular magnetization above a reproducing temperature, provided a distance apart from said reproducing layer, which, at least at room temperature, suppresses magnetic coupling of said recording layer and said reproducing layer.

A magneto-optical memory medium comprising:

• a recording layer made of perpendicularly magnetized film;
• a reproducing layer which has perpendicular magnetization at least within a signal reproducing domain, and which is magnetically coupled to said recording layer;
• and
• a magnetic masking layer provided apart from said reproducing layer, which, at least at room temperature, suppresses magnetic coupling of said recording layer and said reproducing layer;
• wherein said magnetic masking layer is made of an in-plane magnetized layer whose magnetization decreases at high temperature.

A magneto-optical memory medium comprising:

• a recording layer made of perpendicularly magnetized film;
• a reproducing layer which has perpendicular magnetization at least within a signal reproducing domain, and which is magnetically coupled to said recording layer;
• and
• a magnetic masking layer provided apart from said reproducing layer, which, at least at room temperature, suppresses magnetic coupling of said recording layer and said reproducing layer;
• wherein said magnetic masking layer is a magnetic masking layer having total magnetization whose direction, at least at room temperature, is opposite a direction of total magnetization of said recording layer.

A reproducing method for reproducing information, said reproducing method comprising the steps of:

• providing a magneto-optical memory medium comprising:
• a recording layer made of a perpendicularly magnetized film;
• a reproducing layer which has perpendicular magnetization, at least within a signal reproducing domain, and which is magnetically coupled to said recording layer;
• and,
• a magnetic masking layer adapted to suppress leakage of magnetic flux from the recording layer to the reproducing layer at room temperature, and which has in-plane magnetization at room temperature and perpendicular magnetization above a reproducing temperature, provided at a distance apart from said reproducing layer, which, at least at room temperature, suppresses magnetic coupling of said recording layer and said reproducing layer;
• and
• projecting a light beam onto said magneto-optical memory medium.

A magneto-optical memory medium comprising:

• a recording layer made of a perpendicularly magnetized film;
• a reproducing layer comprising a multi-layered film made of alternating layers of Co and Pt, said reproducing layer having perpendicular magnetization, at least within a signal reproducing domain, and being magnetically coupled to said recording layer;
• and,
• a magnetic masking layer provided at a distance apart from said reproducing layer, which, at least at room temperature, suppresses magnetic coupling of said recording layer and said reproducing layer.