PHOTOMAGNETIC RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS HAVING DEVICE FOR DETECTING DIRECTION OF MAGNETIZATION OF MAGNETIC RECORDING MEDIUM.

摘要

A photomagnetic recording and reproducing apparatus employing a magnetic recording medium which has a perpendicular magnetization film is provided with a magnetization direction detector which detects the direction of magnetization of the perpendicular magnetization film, thereby effecting correct recording, reproduction and erasure. The magnetization direction detector is arranged such that a linearly polarized laser beam (14) is applied to a perpendicular magnetization film (11-2) of the magnetic recording medium which has previously been magnetized in one direction, and the laser beam reflected from the perpendicular magnetization film is passed through an analyzer (19) and is detected by a light-detecting element (21). The direction of magnetization of the perpendicular magnetization film is detected on the basis of the output level of the light-detecting element.