Method for manufacturing magneto-optical recording medium

Abstract

A method for manufacturing a magneto-optical recording medium in which reading of recorded information is performed through domain wall displacement in a reproduction layer is provided, in which magnetic separation of groove side-wall portions is performed more reliably; as a result a magneto-optical recording medium with satisfactory recording and reproduction characteristics can be provided. The method is to manufacture a magneto-optical recording medium in which on a substrate 1 having grooves 12 at least a reproduction layer and a recording layer, each of which is formed of magnetic layers, are deposited and recorded information is reproduced through domain wall displacement in the reproduction layer; and the method includes a first annealing process in which, after depositing at least the reproduction layer and recording layer on the substrate 1 on which are formed lands 11 and grooves 12, only side-wall portions 13 between adjacent lands 11 and grooves 12 are irradiated with laser light L 1, and a second magnetization annealing process in which regions including adjacent side-wall portions 13 and lands between side-wall portions 13 are irradiated with laser light L 2 having a spot diameter greater than the spot diameter of the laser light in the first annealing process, while applying an external magnetic field Hex.

1 . A method for manufacturing a magneto-optical recording medium, in which at least a reproduction layer and recording layer each formed of a magnetic layer are deposited over a substrate having grooves and lands, and reproduction of recorded information is performed by means of domain wall displacement in said reproduction layer, comprising:
 after depositing at least the reproduction layer and recording layer over the substrate on which are formed lands and grooves, a first annealing step in which substantially only the side-wall portions between adjacent lands and grooves are irradiated with a first laser light; and,   a second magnetization annealing step, separate from the first, in which regions including said adjacent side-wall portions and said lands between the side-wall portions are irradiated with a second laser light having a spot diameter larger than the spot diameter of said first laser light while applying an external magnetic field.   
     
     
         2 . The method for manufacturing a magneto-optical recording medium according to  claim 1 , wherein during said first annealing step, no external magnetic field is applied. 
     
     
         3 . The method for manufacturing a magneto-optical recording medium according to  claim 1 , wherein the output power of the laser outputting the laser light during said second magnetization annealing step is substantially 5.0 mW or less.