System and method for initializing phase change recording media

A system for formatting a continuous web of recording media comprising phase change material having at least one of an amorphous state and a crystalline state, transformation between the states being effected by incident radiation said system comprising:

• a source of radiation;
• means for converting said radiation into a substantially uniform field of radiation over a predetermined area having a first dimension and a second dimension;
• means for transporting the continuous web of recording media;
• and
• means for controlling the power of said uniform field of radiation to produce a surface power density and exposure duration sufficient to convert the phase change material into the crystalline state without cracking the material.

A method for initializing a recording medium comprising phase change material, said method comprising the steps of:

• obtaining the recording medium wherein said phase change material is in an amorphous state;
• providing a source of radiation;
• converting the source of radiation into an essentially uniform field of illumination over a predetermined area having a first dimension and a second dimension, said first dimension being substantially equal to the width of said medium;
• and
• irradiating the phase change material with said uniform field illumination such that an incident surface energy transfer of radiation is sufficient to induce a phase change from the amorphous state to the crystalline state at a recording surface of the recording medium without cracking the phase change material.

A method for formatting a recording medium comprising phase change material said method comprising the steps of:

• obtaining the recording medium wherein said phase change material is in an amorphous state;
• providing a source of radiation;
• converting the source of radiation into an essentially uniform field of illumination over a predetermined area having a first dimension and a second dimension, said first dimension being substantially equal to the width of said medium;
• irradiating the phase change material at least once with said uniform field illumination such that an incident surface energy transfer of radiation is sufficient to partially induce a phase change from the amorphous state to the crystalline state at a recording surface of the recording medium;
• and
• irradiating the phase change material a final time with said broad field illumination such that an incident surface energy transfer of radiation is sufficient to induce a phase change from the amorphous state to the crystalline state at a recording surface of the recording medium.