Optical recording medium as well as optical recording and reproduction method

An optical recording and reproduction method comprising the steps of:

• illuminating an optical recording medium with light from a light source as near-field light using a focusing lens whose numerical aperture exceeds 1;
• performing at least one of recording and reproduction;
• and
• providing a composite layer in which a high refractive index material portion having a refractive index higher than that of a light-transmissible material portion is mixed in the light-transmissible material portion on a surface of a light incident side of said optical recording medium, wherein a refractive index n1 of said high refractive index material portion is
• n1>NA
• with respect to a numerical aperture NA of said focusing lens,
• said high refractive index material portion is made of particles and an average particle diameter of said particles is equal to or less than one tenth of a wavelength in said composite layer of light that illuminates said optical recording medium, and
• said particles having a particle size of approximately 22 nm or less.