Method and apparatus for reproducing information from a magneto-optical recording medium

An apparatus for reproducing information from a magneto-optical recording medium, wherein in a reproducing temperature range around a temperature at which saturated magnetization of a recording layer is maximized, a magnetic coupling force between the recording layer and a reproducing layer via a reproducing aid layer is greater than a force shrinking a magnetic domain wall of the reproducing layer, and a recording magnetic domain recorded in the recording layer is transcribed onto the reproducing layer so that the information is reproduced, the apparatus comprising:

• a heating section for increasing the temperature of the magneto-optical recording medium irradiated by laser light and included in an inside part of a light spot to a temperature range including a temperature at which saturated magnetization of at least the recording layer or the reproducing aid layer is maximized, wherein the information is detected only from a temperature region within the light spot where the information can be transcribed from the recording layer by a magnetic coupling force between the recording layer and the reproducing layer, by transcribing the recording magnetic domain from the recording layer onto the reproducing layer.