Abstract: A phase change optical disk in which the thermal conductivity of a first region at an outer peripheral position of the disk is set at a value larger than the minimum value of that of a second region. In the optical disk, in order to provide an output characteristic of a uniform reproduced signal when the disk is rotated at a fixed rotation speed, toward an outer peripheral position thereof, the critical cooling rate of a recording film is set at a larger value or the temperature which the recording film is to reach is set at a lower value. Provided is a method of using the phase change optical disk for recording or erasing information, in which method, the power of the laser beam to be directed to an inner peripheral position of the disk is set larger than that directed to an outer peripheral position thereof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for optically recording information in which the phase state of each recording position of the recording film of a recording medium such as an optical disk is reversibly changed between an amorphous phase and a crystalline phase using a single laser beam, thereby optically recording information on the the recording film. The recording position on the recording film is heated to the melting point thereof or more through laser beam irradiation irrespective of the information to be recorded. After completion of the heating, in order to change the phase state of the recording film at the recording position in accordance with the information, the power and/or irradiation time of the laser beam is controlled so as to provide different times required for the temperature of the recording position to pass through the crystallization temperature region of the recording film.

Abstract: A frost sensor for detecting the presence of frost uses an acoustic device having an acoustic transmitting medium made of a magnetostrictive material, particularly an amorphous metal alloy, of a ribbon shape, as means for detecting the frost.