Abstract: An phase-change optical disk comprises a substrate, a first protective layer, a first thermostable layer, a recording layer, a second thermostable layer, a second protective layer, an absorptance control layer, and a heat-diffusing layer which are provided in this order from a side on which a laser beam comes thereinto, wherein a recording layer material has composition ratios which are within a range surrounded by composition points of B3 (Bi3, Ge46, Te51), C3 (Bi4, Ge46, Te50), D3 (Bi5, Ge46, Te49), D5 (Bi10, Ge42, Te48), C5 (Bi10, Ge41, Te49), and B5 (Bi7, Ge41, Te52) on a triangular composition diagram. Recrystallization is not caused even when information is recorded on an inner circumferential portion, a reproduced signal is scarcely deteriorated even when rewriting is performed multiple times, and any erasing residue of amorphous matters scarcely appears at an outer circumferential portion.

Abstract: A high-density information recording medium free from lowering the reflectance by over-write of a large number of times and exfoliation defect in a structure for suppressing cross-erase. This medium includes, over a substrate having a groove shape, a recording layer, and three-layered thin films of a first interference layer, a second interference layer and an interface layer having mutually different compositions and disposed on a laser beam incidence side of the recording layer in order named from the laser beam incidence side. The first interference layer has a smaller refractive index and a larger thermal conductivity than the second interference layer, the interface layer is interposed between the second interference layer and the recording layer, and a distance between the first interference layer and the recording layer is greater than at least a groove depth.

Abstract: An information recording medium has a substrate and a recording layer on the substrate, the recording layer is partially transformable between a crystalline state and an amorphous state by being partially heated and cooled so that a signal is recorded in the recording layer by the partial transformation, and the recording layer includes oxygen.

Abstract: An information recording medium having recording, reproducing, and rewriting characteristics better than those of prior art media. The media has a recording layer made of a material represented by the following formula: Gex−wSbyTezMw, wherein 0.13≦x≦0.22, 0.20≦y≦0.32, 0.53≦z≦0.60, 0≦w≦0.06, x+y+z=1, and M is any one of Na, Mg, Al, P, S, Cl, L, Ca, Sc, Zn, Ga, As, Se, Br, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Ru, Rh, Cd, In, Sn, I, Cs, Ba, La, Hf, Ta, Re, Os, Ir, Hg, Tl, Pb, Th, U, Ag, Cr, W, Mo, Pt, Co, Ni, Pd, Si, Au, Cu, V, Mn, Fe, Ti and Bi.

Abstract: In an optical disk for high density recording as DVD-RAM, for preventing the deformation of recording tracks caused by stress which may develop between the substrate and the recording stacked film formed thereon, a stress-compensation layer which comprises a metal element as Ti or Cr as the main component and has a property to undergo contraction (tensile stress) is provided, thereby to compensate the compression stress which develops in the stacked film owing to contraction of substrate surface during cooling after the thermal expansion of the substrate surface which occurs at the time of film formation and. To impart the property to contract to the layer, the layer is made to have a pillar-like structure which, starting from the lower face, reaches the upper face of the film.

Abstract: A high-density information recording medium free from lowering the reflectance by over-write of a large number of times and exfoliation defect in a structure for suppressing cross-erase. This medium includes, over a substrate having a groove shape, a recording layer, and three-layered thin films of a first interference layer, a second interference layer and an interface layer having mutually different compositions and disposed on a laser beam incidence side of the recording layer in order named from the laser beam incidence side. The first interference layer has a smaller refractive index and a larger thermal conductivity than the second interference layer, the interface layer is interposed between the second interference layer and the recording layer, and a distance between the first interference layer and the recording layer is greater than at least a groove depth.

Abstract: Disclosed is a phase-change optical recording medium which has a reflectance and a signal modulation conformed to the CD standard, and which is usable for recording at the same linear velocity as the reproducing velocity specified in the CD standard. The phase-change optical recording medium comprises a metallic layer, a first protective layer, a recording layer, a second protective layer, and a reflecting layer on a substrate, in which recording is performed through change from a crystalline state to an amorphous state in the recording layer. The recording layer comprises a recording material of a Ge--Te--Sb--Se system, and the recording layer has an average composition in a direction of thickness which satisfies the following relations as represented by atomic %:Ge.gtoreq.40%, and Sb+Se.ltoreq.