JPH0520720A - Magneto-optical recording system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To miniaturize an optical system and to reduce a cost by having a 1st magnetic layer which has a low coercive force at room temp. and a high Curie temp. and a 2nd magnetic layer which has the coercive force higher than the coercive force of the above-mentioned layer and has a low Curie temp. CONSTITUTION:A laser beam A with which the magnetic field impressed position of a coil 1 is irradiated is reflected from a recording medium 2 and is made incident on photodiodes 6, 7 via a half prism 4 and a polarization beam splitter 5. The outputs of photodiodes 6, 7 are inputted to a differential amplifier 8 and are differentially amplified, by which reproduced signals are taken out. The reproduced signals are compared with recording information in a comparator 10. A series of the recording information are rerecorded on the same position or different positions on the recording medium if these signals do not coincide with the recording information The rerecording is not executed if the reproduced signals coincide with the recording information. The reproduced signals become abnormal if the execution of the correct recording is failed by the defect, deterioration, corrosion, etc., of the recording medium and, therefore, the checking of the recording is possible.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention uses a laser beam and an external magnetic field to form bits in a reversed magnetic domain for recording information, and irradiates a polarized laser beam to produce a magneto-optical effect. The present invention relates to a magneto-optical recording method for reading information by utilizing it.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The magneto-optical recording method uses a disk-shaped magnetic material as a recording medium, so that information can be accessed quickly.
The feature is that the information can be rewritten and the recording medium can be exchanged.

The most basic method of rewriting information in magneto-optical recording is: (i) applying a DC external magnetic field in the erasing direction to a rotating disk-shaped recording medium to produce a continuous laser beam at the desired recording position. To erase the previous information.

(Ii) Next, a direct current external magnetic field is applied in the recording direction, and a laser beam modulated according to the recorded information is applied to the desired recording location to record the information.

(Iii) Finally, a weak continuous light laser beam is applied to the recording location to read the recording information and confirm whether the recording was successful (verify operation).

In magneto-optical recording, defects in the recording medium,
Recording may not be performed properly due to deterioration, corrosion, dust, or failure of the magneto-optical recording device.
The records in (iii) must be confirmed.

As is clear from the above description, in order to rewrite information, it takes time for three rotations of the disk, and if this can be done by two rotations of the disk and even one rotation of the disk, the information can be rewritten. The processing speed for is very fast.

Therefore, various methods have been proposed.

A method of irradiating a continuous laser beam under an external magnetic field modulated according to recorded information in order to simultaneously perform (i) and (ii) (that is, overwrite recording). Alternatively, a method has been proposed in which a special medium is used to irradiate a laser beam that is modulated in a strong and weak manner according to recorded information under a DC external magnetic field. By using these methods, the processes (i), (ii), and (iii) can be performed by rotating the disk twice.

In addition to the above method, a method has been proposed in which two laser beams are incorporated in one optical system, recording is performed by the preceding beam and recording is confirmed by the backward beam. By using all of the above methods, the processes (i), (ii), and (iii) can be performed on the disk 1.
It can be performed in the time corresponding to the rotation.

[0011]

[Problems to be solved by the invention] However,
As a method of confirming the recording, 2 in 1 optical system are used.
Incorporation of two laser beams makes the optical system very complicated and requires high mechanical precision of the optical system, so there is a drawback that the optical system becomes large and costly.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a method for confirming recording while performing recording without requiring an expensive and complicated optical system. Especially.

The above-mentioned object of the present invention is, in a magneto-optical recording system, a first magnetic layer having a low coercive force at room temperature and a high Curie temperature, which is exchange-coupled with the first magnetic layer and is formed on the first magnetic layer. By applying a magnetic field modulated according to the recorded information while irradiating a magneto-optical recording medium having a second magnetic layer having a high coercive force and a low Curie temperature with a constant intensity, information is recorded. And recording information is confirmed by using the reflected light of the light beam.

[0014]

1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a magneto-optical recording system according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a coil for applying an external magnetic field to a recording medium, the magnetic field of which is modulated according to recording information by a modulation circuit (not shown). 2 is a recording medium,
21 has a low coercive force at room temperature and a high Curie temperature.
1 magnetic layer, 22 is a second magnetic layer which exchange-couples with the first magnetic layer and has a higher coercive force and a lower Curie temperature than the first magnetic layer, 3 is a semiconductor laser, and 4 is a half prism , 5 is a polarization beam splitter, 6 and 7 are photodiodes (PIN photo), 8 is a differential amplifier, and 10 is a comparator for confirming the reproduction information from the recording medium and the recording information to be recorded on the recording medium. -It is.

Next, the operating principle of the present invention will be described.

A laser beam A having a constant intensity is applied to the recording medium 2 which is being rotated by a spindle motor (not shown). Is set so that the magnetic layer is heated to near the Curie temperature. The magnetization of the second magnetic layer 22 disappears. However, since the Curie temperature of the first magnetic layer 21 is higher than that of the first magnetic layer 22, the magnetization remains. When the magnetization of the second magnetic layer disappears, the exchange coupling between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer does not work, and the first magnetic layer becomes the original small coercive force (the exchange coupling works. If so, the coercive force of the first magnetic layer is apparently increased.). Then, in that state, a coil whose magnetic field direction is modulated according to the recorded information
When an external magnetic field of 1 is applied to the recording medium, the magnetization of the first magnetic layer is aligned with the direction of the magnetic field to record information.

The magnetization direction of the first magnetic layer is a photo diode as a change in the magneto-optical effect (Carr effect or Faraday effect) of the reflected light B of the laser beam A irradiated on the recording medium 2. 6, 7, detected in real time. Specifically, the laser beam A irradiated on the magnetic field application position of the coil 1 is reflected from the recording medium 2 and passes through the half prism 4 and the deflecting beam splitter 5 to the photodiode.
It is incident on 6, 7. Then, the outputs of the photodiodes 6 and 7 are input to the differential amplifier 8 and differentially amplified, so that the reproduction signal is extracted. Then, the reproduced signal is compared with the recorded information by the comparator 10, and if the reproduced signal does not match the recorded information, a series of recorded information is re-recorded at the same location or a different location on the recording medium. If the reproduced signal matches the recorded information, re-recording is not performed. The re-recording may be performed immediately after detecting that the reproduced signal does not match the recorded information even after the recording of the series of information is completed. As described above, if the recording cannot be performed correctly due to the defect, deterioration, corrosion of the recording medium, the dust, the failure of the magneto-optical recording device, etc., the reproduction signal becomes abnormal, so that the recording can be confirmed. .

Next, in the present invention, a recording having an exchange-coupled magnetic layer consisting of a first magnetic layer having a low coercive force and a high Curie temperature and a second magnetic layer having a high coercive force and a low Curie temperature. The reason for using the medium will be described below. Figure 2
Shows the case where a single layer of a normal magnetic material having a high coercive force and a low Curie temperature at room temperature is used as a recording medium. When the recording medium 2'is irradiated with the laser beam A, the temperature of the medium rises and the magnetization of the magnetic layer disappears. In this case, the reflected light B from the recording medium 2'of the laser beam A is not subjected to the magneto-optical effect because the magnetization at the irradiation position of the laser beam has disappeared. That is, the reproduction signal hardly changes (it slightly changes due to the reflected light from the skirt of the laser beam). Therefore, when an ordinary magnetic material is used as a recording medium in a single layer, the recording cannot be confirmed by the reflected light B of the laser beam A irradiated on the recording position of the recording medium for recording. ..

Therefore, at least a first magnetic layer having a low coercive force at room temperature and a high Curie temperature at room temperature, and a coercive force higher than that of the magnetic layer and a Curie temperature can be used as a recording medium in which the present invention can be implemented. It is necessary that the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer are exchange-coupled with each other. The recording medium of the present invention may have the following various configurations.

(A) Transparent substrate on which a laser beam is incident / first dielectric layer / first magnetic layer / second magnetic layer / second
The first dielectric layer protects the magnetic layer and / or lowers the reflectance of light by the interference effect to increase the recording sensitivity and enhances the magneto-optical effect to reproduce the reproduced signal. It works to make it bigger. As a material, a dielectric such as silicon nitride (SiN) is desirable, and its refractive index and film thickness are determined by the wavelength of the laser used.

The thickness of the first magnetic layer is determined by the laser beam
Although it is desirable to make it thick enough not to reach the second magnetic layer,
If it is too thick, the effect of exchange coupling from the second magnetic layer will be diminished, so it can be determined in consideration of the balance between the two.

The thickness of the second magnetic layer is determined by the balance between recording sensitivity and magneto-optical effect.

The second dielectric layer protects the magnetic layer,
If it is not necessary, it may not be provided.

(B) Transparent substrate on which the laser beam is incident / first dielectric layer / first magnetic layer / second magnetic layer / second
Recording medium composed of the dielectric layer / metal layer of the above, in the above-mentioned configuration (a), a metal layer is provided on the second dielectric layer, and heat conduction by the metal layer causes an in-plane direction of the recording surface of the recording medium. The thermal responsiveness in the is improved. In this case, the second dielectric layer acts as a thermal insulating layer between the magnetic layer and the metal layer. It may be omitted if an insulating layer is not needed, or a third dielectric layer may be provided on the metal layer for the purpose of protecting the metal layer.

(C) Recording composed of transparent substrate on which laser beam is incident / first dielectric layer / thin first magnetic layer / thin second magnetic layer / second dielectric layer / metal layer In the medium structure (b), the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer are thinned so that the laser beam reaches the metal layer through the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer. is there. The magneto-optical effect at the time of recording on this recording medium is affected by the disappearance of the magneto-optical effect of the second magnetic layer, and the structure (a), (b)
Although it is smaller than (compared to the case where the magnetic layer is a single layer), it has the effect of improving recording sensitivity.

As the first magnetic layer of the present invention, a rare earth-iron group amorphous alloy such as Gd-Fe-Co, Tb-Fe-Co, Dy is used.
-Fe-Co, Gd-Tb-Fe-Co, Gd-Dy-Fe-Co, Tb-Dy-Fe-Co, Nd
-Fe-Co, Nd-Gd-Fe-Co, Nd-Tb-Fe-Co, Nd-Dy-Fe-Co, or platinum group-iron group periodic structure film, eg Pt / Co, second
The magnetic layer is preferably a rare earth-iron group amorphous alloy, such as Tb-Fe-Co, Dy-Fe-Co, Tb-Dy-Fe-Co.

The coercive force of the first magnetic layer is preferably about 1 kOe or less. The coercive force of the second magnetic layer is more than a few kOe,
It is preferably set to 5 kOe or more, more preferably 10 kOe or more.

The Curie temperature of the first magnetic layer is preferably 200 ° C. or higher, more preferably 300 ° C. or higher, and the Curie temperature of the second magnetic layer is preferably 200 ° C. or lower.

For the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer, Cr, Al,
Elements such as Ti, Pt, and Nb may be added to improve the corrosion resistance. The amount of addition is about 1 atm.% To 10 atm.%, Preferably about 2 atm.% To 6 atm.%. At this time, when adding an element such as Cr that deteriorates the magneto-optical effect, a large amount of the first magnetic layer is added.
It is advisable to add Co and a small amount of Cr, and add a small amount of Co and a large amount of Cr to the second magnetic layer.

Next, the temperature dependence of the magnetization reversal magnetic field of each magnetic layer of the recording medium of the present invention will be described.

In the following example, Gd-Fe-Co-Cr was produced by the co-sputtering method using a Gd target and Fe ₆₈ Co ₂₉ Cr ₃ target, and Tb-Fe-Co-Cr was produced by the Tb target and Fe ₈₃ Co. ₁₂ Cr ₅
It was manufactured by the co-sputtering method using a target.

The Curie temperature of the Tb-Fe-Co-Cr layer is about 190 ° C.
The Curie temperature of the Gd-Fe-Co-Cr layer is estimated to be 300 ° C or higher.

In FIG. 3, the first dielectric layer SiN (refractive index 2.2
5, thickness 516 A) / first magnetic layer Gd-Fe-Co-Cr (Fe-Co sublattice magnetization dominant, saturation magnetization 100 emu / cm ³ , thickness 400 A) / second
Magnetic layer of Tb-Fe-Co-Cr (Fe-Co sublattice magnetization dominant, saturation magnetization
100 emu / cm ³ , film thickness 400 A) / second dielectric layer SiN (refractive index 2.
25 shows the temperature dependence of the magnetization reversal field of each magnetic layer of the recording medium (25 (thickness: 700 A)) (structure (a)). Where △ is
The magnetization reversal field of the Tb-Fe-Co-Cr layer, ● is the magnetization reversal field of the Gd-Fe-Co-Cr layer.

Fe-Co sublattice magnetization dominance, saturation magnetization 100 emu /
As well known, the coercive force of a cm ³ Gd-Fe-Co-Cr film is only several tens Oe by itself. As shown in Fig. 3, by exchange coupling with the Tb-Fe-Co-Cr layer,
The magnetization reversal field of the Gd-Fe-Co-Cr layer rises to several kOe. As the temperature rises and approaches the Curie temperature of Tb-Fe-Co-Cr, the magnetization reversal field of the Tb-Fe-Co-Cr and Gd-Fe-Co-Cr layers decreases. When Tb-Fe-Co-Cr reaches the Curie temperature, the magnetization of the Tb-Fe-Co-Cr layer disappears and the exchange force from the Tb-Fe-Co-Cr layer to the Gd-Fe-Co-Cr layer disappears. Stop working, Gd-Fe-
The magnetization reversal field of the Co-Cr layer becomes small originally. That is, in this state, the magnetization can be easily reversed by the external magnetization.

By using such a magnetic material,
The magneto-optical recording method of the present invention can be realized.

FIG. 4 shows another example of the first dielectric layer.
SiN (refractive index 2.25, film thickness 516 A) / first magnetic layer Gd-Fe-Co-Cr
(Fe-Co sublattice magnetization dominant, saturation magnetization 100 emu / cm ³ , film thickness 40
0 A) / second magnetic layer Tb-Fe-Co-Cr (saturation magnetization 0 emu / cm ³ ,
Thickness 400 A) / 2nd dielectric layer SiN (refractive index 2.25, thickness 700
The temperature dependence of the magnetization reversal magnetic field of each magnetic layer of the recording medium composed of A) is shown.

FIG. 5 shows another example of the first dielectric layer.
SiN (refractive index 2.25, film thickness 516 A) / first magnetic layer Gd-Fe-Co-Cr
(Fe-Co sublattice magnetization dominant, saturation magnetization 100 emu / cm ³ , film thickness 40
0 A) / second magnetic layer Tb-Fe-Co-Cr (Tb sublattice magnetization dominant, saturation magnetization 100 emu / cm ³ , film thickness 400 A) / second dielectric layer SiN
The temperature dependence of the magnetization reversal field of each magnetic layer of the recording medium (refractive index 2.25, film thickness 700 A) is shown.

FIG. 6 shows another example of the first dielectric layer.
SiN (refractive index 2.25, film thickness 516 A) / first magnetic layer Gd-Fe-Co-Cr
(Fe-Co sublattice magnetization dominant, saturation magnetization 100 emu / cm ³ , film thickness 40
0 A) / second magnetic layer Tb-Fe-Co-Cr (Tb sublattice magnetization dominant, saturation magnetization 200 emu / cm ³ , film thickness 400 A) / second dielectric layer SiN
The temperature dependence of the magnetization reversal field of each magnetic layer of the recording medium (refractive index 2.25, film thickness 700 A) is shown.

FIG. 7 shows another example of the first dielectric layer.
SiN (refractive index 2.25, film thickness 516 A) / first magnetic layer Gd-Fe-Co-Cr
(Fe-Co sublattice magnetization dominant, saturation magnetization 50 emu / cm ³ , film thickness 400
A) / second magnetic layer Tb-Fe-Co-Cr (Tb sublattice magnetization dominant, saturation magnetization 100 emu / cm ³ , film thickness 400A) / second dielectric layer SiN (refractive index 2.25, film thickness 700 The temperature dependence of the magnetization reversal magnetic field of each magnetic layer of the recording medium composed of A) is shown.

FIG. 8 shows another example of the first dielectric layer.
SiN (refractive index 2.25, film thickness 516 A) / first magnetic layer Gd-Fe-Co-Cr
(Fe-Co sublattice magnetization dominant, saturation magnetization 150 emu / cm ³ , film thickness 4
00A) / second magnetic layer Tb-Fe-Co-Cr (Tb sublattice magnetization dominant, saturation magnetization 100 emu / cm ³ , film thickness 400 A) / second dielectric layer SiN
The temperature dependence of the magnetization reversal field of each magnetic layer of the recording medium (refractive index 2.25, film thickness 700 A) is shown.

Next, the temperature dependence of the magneto-optical effect of each magnetic layer will be described.

In the following example, Gd-Fe-Co-Cr is used as Gd ₅₀ Co ₅₀
The target and Fe ₉₃ Co ₄ Cr ₃ simultaneous sputtering method using a target, Tb-Fe-Co-Cr is, Tb target and Fe ₉₃ Co ₄ C
It was manufactured by the co-sputtering method using an r ₃ target.

The Curie temperature of the Tb-Fe-Co-Cr layer is about 160 ° C.
The Curie temperature of the Gd-Fe-Co-Cr layer is estimated to be 300 ° C or higher.

In the recording medium used in the magneto-optical recording method of the present invention, not only the temperature change of the magnetization reversal magnetic field of the magnetic layer but also the temperature change of the magneto-optical effect thereof are important.

The first dielectric layer SiN (refractive index 2.3, film thickness 750
A) / first magnetic layer Gd-Fe-Co-Cr (Fe-Co sublattice magnetization dominant,
Saturation magnetization 100 emu / cm ³ , film thickness 300A) / second magnetic layer Tb-Fe-
Co-Cr (Fe-Co sublattice magnetization dominant, saturation magnetization 200 emu / cm ³ ,
Thickness 500 A) / 2nd dielectric layer SiN (refractive index 2.3, thickness 700
FIG. 9 shows the temperature dependence of the magneto-optical effect of the recording medium (A) having the constitution (a). Where R is the light intensity reflectance, α is α = (θ _K ² + γ _K ² ) ^1/2 (θ _K : Kerr rotation angle, γ
_K : Kerr ellipticity).

For comparison, the first dielectric layer SiN (refractive index
2.3, thickness 750 A) / magnetic layer Tb-Fe-Co-Cr (Fe-Co sublattice magnetization dominant, saturation magnetization 200 emu / cm ³ , thickness 800 A) / second dielectric layer SiN (refractive index Fig. 9 shows the temperature dependence of the magneto-optical effect of a recording medium having a thickness of 2.3 and a film thickness of 700 A). Then Tb-Fe
-The Rα decreases monotonically toward the Curie temperature of Co-Cr of about 160 ℃, and the R
α is 0. In such a medium, it is impossible to confirm the recording by using the reflected light of the recording light beam as shown in FIG.

As another example, the first dielectric layer SiN (refractive index
2.0, thickness 1020 A) / first magnetic layer Gd-Fe-Co-Cr (Fe-Co
Sublattice magnetization dominant, saturation magnetization 100 emu / cm ³ , film thickness 100 A) /
2nd magnetic layer Tb-Fe-Co-Cr (Fe-Co sublattice magnetization dominant, saturation magnetization 200 emu / cm ³ , film thickness 100A) / 2nd dielectric layer SiN (refractive index 2.0, film thickness 300 A ) / Metal layer Al—Cr (film thickness 450 A), the temperature dependence of the magneto-optical effect of the recording medium (the above-mentioned structure (c)) is shown in FIG.

For comparison of FIG. 9, the first dielectric layer Si
N (refractive index 2.0, film thickness 1020 A) / magnetic layer Tb- Fe-Co-Cr (Fe-
Co sublattice magnetization dominant, saturation magnetization 200 emu / cm ³ , film thickness 200 A) /
Second dielectric layer SiN (refractive index 2.0, film thickness 300 A) / metal layer Al
FIG. 9 shows the temperature dependence of the magneto-optical effect of the recording medium made of -Cr (film thickness 450 A). After all, Rα becomes 0 at the Curie temperature (that is, the recording temperature), and the present invention cannot be achieved.

As another example, the first dielectric layer SiN (refractive index
2.3, thickness 940 A) / first magnetic layer Gd-Fe-Co-Cr (Fe-Co sublattice magnetization dominant, saturation magnetization 150 emu / cm ³ , thickness 100 A) / second
Magnetic layer Tb-Fe-Co-Cr (Fe-Co sublattice magnetization dominant, saturation magnetization
200 emu / cm ³ , film thickness 200 A) / second dielectric layer SiN (refractive index
FIG. 9 shows the temperature dependence of the magneto-optical effect of a recording medium (2.3 (thickness: 300 A) / metal layer: Al—Cr (thickness: 450 A) (structure (c)).

As described above, at least the layer structure of the magneto-optical recording medium applicable to the present invention has the coercive force lower than that of the first magnetic layer having a low coercive force and a high Curie temperature at room temperature. It has a second magnetic layer having a high temperature and a low Curie temperature, and it can be seen that the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer are exchange-coupled.

[Experimental Example] An experiment was conducted by the method shown in FIG. 1 using the recording medium of FIG.

Using an evaluation machine with a laser wavelength of 780 nm and a lens numerical aperture of 0.53, the substrate rotation speed was 1800 rpm and the disk radius was 32.
A 3 MHz signal was recorded at a location of mm with a laser power of 5 mW. After that, while recording the 1 MHz signal and detecting and observing the reflected light, a signal as shown in FIG. 10 was obtained. 1 MHz although 3 MHz signal is mixed
You can see that the signal of is reproduced neatly.

Next, after recording a 1 MHz signal, 3 MHz
When the reflected light was detected and observed while recording the signal of 1, the signal as shown in FIG. 11 was obtained. It can be seen that the signal of 3 MHz is reproduced cleanly although the signal of 1 MHz is mixed.

[0054]

As described above, according to the present invention, at least the first magnetic layer having a low coercive force and a high Curie temperature at room temperature and the first magnetic layer having a high coercive force and a low Curie temperature as compared with the magnetic layer. By using a recording medium having two magnetic layers and in which the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer are exchange-coupled, by using the reflected light of the recording light beam, The recording can be confirmed using the optical system of.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a magneto-optical recording system of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a conventional magneto-optical recording method,

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of temperature dependence of a magnetization reversal magnetic field of a magneto-optical recording medium used in the magneto-optical recording method of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another example of the temperature dependence of the magnetization reversal field of the magneto-optical recording medium used in the magneto-optical recording method of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another example of the temperature dependence of the magnetization reversal magnetic field of the magneto-optical recording medium used in the magneto-optical recording method of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another example of the temperature dependence of the magnetization reversal magnetic field of the magneto-optical recording medium used in the magneto-optical recording method of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another example of the temperature dependence of the magnetization reversal magnetic field of the magneto-optical recording medium used in the magneto-optical recording method of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another example of the temperature dependence of the magnetization reversal field of the magneto-optical recording medium used in the magneto-optical recording method of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of temperature dependence of magneto-optical effect of a magneto-optical recording medium used in the magneto-optical recording method of the present invention and another magneto-optical recording medium.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a detection waveform of reflected light of a recording light beam during recording in the magneto-optical recording method of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a detection waveform of reflected light of a recording light beam during recording in the magneto-optical recording method of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Coil for applying an external magnetic field 2 Recording medium 21 First magnetic layer 22 Second magnetic layer 3 Semiconductor laser 4 Half prism 5 Polarizing beam splitter 6, 7 Photodiode 8 Differential amplifier 9 Recording information 2'Recording medium

Claims (1)

Claim: What is claimed is: 1. A first magnetic layer having a low coercive force and a high Curie temperature at room temperature, which is exchange-coupled with the first magnetic layer and has a coercive force higher than that of the first magnetic layer. Information is recorded by applying a magnetic field modulated according to the recorded information while irradiating a magneto-optical recording medium having a second magnetic layer having a high Curie temperature and a high magnetic field with a constant intensity. A magneto-optical recording method characterized in that the recorded information is confirmed by using the reflected light of the light beam.