Magneto-optical recording medium having clock-marks on recording layer and apparatus for recording and reproducing same

A method of recording and reproducing a magneto-optical recording medium having an information recording layer on which information is recorded, and a reproducing layer on a substrate whereon a clock pit is formed, comprising the steps of:

• magnetically recording clock marks and recording marks according to the information on the information recording layer in conformity with the clock pit;
• transferring on to the reproducing layer the clock marks magnetically recorded on the information recording layer by applying a direct-current magnetic field of the same polarity as magnetisation of the clock marks while irradiating the magneto-optical recording medium with light, and detecting the reproducing clock signal from the clock marks transferred on to the reproducing layer;
• and
• reproducing the recording marks in accordance with the detected reproducing clock signal.

An apparatus for recording and reproducing a magneto-optical recording medium having an information recording layer and a reproducing layer on a substrate whereon a clock pit is formed, comprising:

• a light source for irradiating the magneto-optical recording medium with light;
• a magnetic field application device for applying magnetic field;
• a controller for controlling the light source and the magnetic field application device to magnetically record clock marks on the information recording layer;
• a first sensor for detecting the clock marks;
• and
• a reproducing clock generator for generating a reproducing clock in accordance with a clock mark detection signal detected by the first sensor.