Method of magneto-optically recording/erasing information and magneto- optical information storage medium including recording and bias layers satisfying certain conditions

摘要

A magneto-optical recording medium including a recording layer and a bias layer being stacked one upon the other to apply coupling interaction which is mainly magnetostatic interaction to each other, the bias layer having a magnetization-reversing temperature higher than that of the recording layer. The medium is irradiated with laser beam pulses having a recording level and an erasing level lower than the recording level, thereby recording and erasing the information. When the medium is irradiated with the laser beam pulse having the recording level and the irradiated region is cooled to the magnetization reversing temperature T. sub.rR, the magnetization of the beam-irradiated region of the recording layer is aligned with a direction of the leakage magnetic field leaking from the recording layer. When the medium is irradiated with the laser beam pulse having the erase level and the irradiated region is cooled to T.sub.rR, direction of magnetization of the beam-irradiated region of the recording layer is aligned with a direction of the leakage magnetic field applied from the bias layer to the recording layer.