Abstract: An optical information recording medium, recording/reproducing method thereof, and recording/reproducing apparatus with superior signal quality for high-density recording that has high storage reliability is provided. The optical information recording medium has at least one information layer having a recording layer and a dielectric layer in order on a transparent substrate. The dielectric layer is comprised of greater than or equal to 50 molecule percent and less than or equal to 98 molecule percent of Zn—O, and greater than or equal to 2 molecule percent to less than or equal to 50 molecule percent of one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of Y—O, Ce—O, Nb—O, Ta—O, Cr—O and Mo—O.

Abstract: A sputtering target for optical media is mainly composed of Al and contains 1 to 10 at % of one or two species of elements selected from the group consisting of Ta and Nb and 0.1 to 10 at % of Ag. An optical medium 100 comprises a substrate 10 and reflective layers 20A, 20B provided on the substrate 10. Each of the reflective layers 20A, 20B has a composition, mainly composed of Al, containing 1 to 10 at % of one or two species of elements selected from the group consisting of Ta and Nb and 0.1 to 10 at % of Ag.

Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a sputtering target for making an optical medium whose reflective layer is mainly composed of Ag and capable of attaining an optical medium which is excellent in surface smoothness and can sufficiently suppress noise and jitter, a method of making the same, an optical medium, and a method of making the same. The present invention provides a sputtering target for making an optical medium comprising 0.1 to 2 at % of one or two elements selected from the group consisting of Ta and Nb, 0.1 to 1 at % of Al, and the balance constituted by Ag and unavoidable impurities; and an optical medium comprising a reflective layer having this composition on a substrate.

Abstract: An optical data storage disk including a substrate, a nanocrystalline noise reduction layer formed over the substrate, a reflector formed directly on the noise reduction layer and a cover layer formed over the reflector layer. An optical source detects data from the disk through the cover layer. In some embodiments, the reflector layer forms part of a multilayer recording stack and the cover layer is formed over the multilayer recording stack. In some embodiments, the noise reduction layer includes one or more components selected from the group consisting of Ti, Ti alloys, Ti oxides, Cr, Cr alloys and Cr oxides. Additionally, a method of forming an optical data storage disk that includes a nanocrystalline noise reduction layer.

Abstract: A silver alloy reflective film for optical information storage media, which can maintain superior environmental resistance, such as high hygrothermal resistance and high light stability, over the long term even when the metal reflective film is in direct contact with a resin layer. An optical information storage medium includes the reflective film and a sputtering target deposits the reflective film. The silver alloy reflective film includes one or more specific elements selected from Pr, Ho, Yb, Sm, Er, Tm, and Tb, to suppress deterioration occurring when the silver alloy reflective film is in direct contact with a resin layer, where silver in the reflective film migrates and aggregates into the adjacent resin layer.

Abstract: The optical storage medium, in particular a read-only optical disc, comprises a substrate layer, a read only data layer comprising a pit structure and being arranged on the substrate layer, a mask layer comprising nanoparticles for providing a super resolution near field effect, and a dielectric layer arranged between the data layer and the mask layer. The dielectric layer has a thickness, which changes in dependency of the pit structure and is for example a plastic layer having a completely flat surface for providing a uniform arrangement of the nanoparticles. For the manufacturing of a respective optical storage medium, the dielectric layer is arranged on the data layer advantageously by means of spin coating.

Abstract: A silver-based alloy thin film is provided for the semi-reflective coating layer of optical discs. Alloy additions to silver include copper and a rare earth metal. These alloys have moderate to high reflectivity and reasonable corrosion resistance in the ambient environment.

Abstract: An optical recording medium is an optical recording medium having an inorganic recording film and has a transparent conductive film on the inorganic recording film. The inorganic recording film has a first recording film containing titanium (Ti) and a second recording film containing an oxide of germanium (Ge). The transparent conductive film is provided on the side of the second recording film. The transparent conductive film contains an oxide of tin (Sn).

Abstract: The optical storage medium according to the invention uses a mask layer as a super resolution near field structure, which comprises a doped semiconductor material. The semiconductor material is n-doped particularly such that the reflectivity of the semiconductor material is increased, when irradiated with a laser beam. As a semiconductor material advantageously an indium alloy and as a doping material selenium or tellurium can be used. For the manufacturing of a respective optical storage medium a sputtering method for depositing the doped semiconductor material as the mask layer can be used, wherein the dopant is included already in the semiconductor sputtering target.

Abstract: An optical medium including a plurality of data layers stacked relative to each other in a dielectric medium. A respective data layer including mark and land regions for having information recorded thereon. A mark region and a land region in the respective data layer are disposed beside each other and have substantially the same optical path length across respective thicknesses of the mark region and the land region. A method and computer program product associated with forming the optical medium which determines whether an admittance curve for a material to be used as the mark region forms an intersection with a desired admittance curve based on the admittance of a land region disposed beside the mark region, and determines a thickness of the material based on the intersection.

Abstract: An optical recording medium is provided. The optical recording medium includes at least a reflective film and a cover layer on a substrate; main data by a combination of pit and land are recorded on the substrate; a write-once recording is made to be possible on the reflective film by irradiating a laser light; sub-data are recorded by a mark that is formed by the irradiation of laser light for the write-once recording with respect to the reflective film; a reproducing signal level at portion where said mark is formed increases for the land of specified length; the mark by which the reproduced level decreases at the portion where the mark is formed is formed for an optical disc recording medium manufactured by physical copy; the reflective film is composed of an Ag-alloy film of Ag100-xXx(0<x<100); and the X is selected from Ti, W, Ta, V, Mo, Nb and Zr.

Abstract: A method for selectively marking a surface of an optical disk includes providing an optical disk, wherein the optical disk includes a metal, an electrolyte disposed on the metal, and a photoconductor disposed on the electrolyte, applying a voltage to the optical disk, the voltage being associated with a desired anodization color, and selectively applying a laser to the photoconductor to initiate anodization of the metal.

Abstract: An optical recording medium includes a substrate and a plurality of recording layers laminated via at least intermediate layers, at least one of the recording layers other than a recording layer farthest from a light incidence plane among the plurality of recording layers containing at least one metal M selected from a group consisting of Ni, Cu, Si, Ti, Ge, Zr, Nb, Mo, In, Sn, W, Pb, Bi, Zn and La and an element X which can combine with the metal M upon being irradiated with a laser beam for recording data, thereby forming a crystal of a compound of the element X with the metal M. According to the thus constituted optical recording medium, it is possible to record data in and reproduce from a farthest recording layer from a light incidence plane in a desired manner and it is possible to record data in and reproduce from recording layer(s) other than the farthest recording layer from the light incidence plane in a desired manner.

Abstract: To provide a sputtering target for preparing a recordable optical recording medium characterized by comprising Bi and B and a manufacturing method thereof, a recordable high density optical recording medium using the sputtering target, and a sputtering target which is capable of improving a speed of the film formation for the improvement of productivity, which has a high intensity at the time of the film formation and which has a heightened packing density.

Abstract: An optical recording medium is provided with inorganic bi-layer films that were prepared by magnetic sputtering. A first recording layer containing an element selected from Si or Ge, and a second recording layer contacts with the first recording layer and containing a primary component selected from Ta, Ni or Mo. This optical media can record information by way of microscopic structure changing of bi-layer recording films after laser irradiation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an Ag alloy film. Particularly, it is preferably used as a reflective film or semi-transmissive reflective film for an optical information recording medium having high thermal conductivity/high reflectance/high durability in the field of optical information recording media, an electromagnetic-shielding film excellent in Ag aggregation resistance, and an optical reflective film on the back of a reflection type liquid crystal display device, or the like. The Ag alloy film of the present invention comprises an Ag base alloy containing Bi and/or Sb in a total amount of 0.005 to 10% (in terms of at %). Further, the present invention relates to a sputtering target used for the deposition of such an Ag alloy film.

Abstract: An optical disk is disclosed. The optical disk includes a substrate having lands and pits arranged and formed along a recording track so that data are recorded; a reflective film deposited on the substrate; and a protective layer formed on the reflective film, where an edge of the pits in the array direction is irradiated with light from a side of the protective layer to deform the pits, so that pit data are rewritten and recorded, and the reflective film includes an alloy formed of AlFeX having Al as a main component, where X contains any one or more of Ti, Cu, Au, Pt, and Si.

Abstract: The invention relates to an Ag alloy reflective film for an optical information recording medium, including Ag as a main component, at least one kind of Nd, Gd, Y and Sm in a total amount of more than 0.1 atomic percent and not more than 3.0 atomic percent and at least one kind of W, Mo, V, Zr, Nb and Cr in a total amount of 3.0 to 10.0 atomic percent; an Ag alloy reflective film for an optical information recording medium, including Ag as a main component, at least one kind of Nd, Gd, Y and Sm in a total amount of more than 0.1 atomic percent and not more than 3.0 atomic percent and at least one kind of Ti and Ta in a total amount of 5.0 to 10.0 atomic percent; an optical information recording medium including the Ag alloy reflective film; and an Ag alloy sputtering target having a composition same as that of the Ag alloy reflective film.

Abstract: An optical recording medium includes a substrate, a protective layer and a plurality of information recording layers between the substrate and the protective layer and capable of recording data in the plurality of information recording layers and reproducing data recorded in the plurality of information recording layers by projecting a laser beam via a light incidence plane constituted by one of the surfaces of the substrate and protective layer onto the plurality of information recording layers, each of the information recording layers other than a farthest information recording layer from the light incidence plane including two recording films, a first dielectric film located on the side of the light incidence plane with respect to the two recording films and containing an oxide as a primary component and added with nitrogen, and a second dielectric film located on the opposite side of the light incidence plane with respect to the two recording films and having a lower thermal conductivity than that of the

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical storage medium using nanoparticles, and more specifically to a multi-layer optical storage medium. According to the invention, the optical storage medium has two or more storage layers with nanoparticles, each storage layer being made of a dielectric material, wherein the dielectric materials of at least two storage layers have a different dielectric permittivity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an Ag alloy film. Particularly, it is preferably used as a reflective film or semi-transmissive reflective film for an optical information recording medium having high thermal conductivity/high reflectance/high durability in the field of optical information recording media, an electromagnetic-shielding film excellent in Ag aggregation resistance, and an optical reflective film on the back of a reflection type liquid crystal display device, or the like. The Ag alloy film of the present invention comprises an Ag base alloy containing Bi and/or Sb in a total amount of 0.005 to 10% (in terms of at %). Further, the present invention relates to a sputtering target used for the deposition of such an Ag alloy film.

Abstract: An optical data storage medium comprises at least one active layer of inorganic material, that is able to undergo local deformations during write operations. The active layer presents a front face which is designed to receive an optical radiation at least during read operations. The support also comprises a thin tin and tellurium based alloy layer forming a semi-reflective layer disposed on the front face of the active layer.

Abstract: A silver alloy reflective film is used in an optical information recording medium and contains silver as a main component, a total of 0.01 to 3 atomic percent of at least one of Bi and Sb, and a total of 3 to 42 atomic percent of at least one of Cu, Ge, Mg, and Zn. The silver alloy reflective film preferably further contains 0.1 to 3 atomic percent of yttrium. An optical information recording medium includes the silver alloy reflective film. A sputtering target for depositing the silver alloy reflective film contains silver as a main component, 0.01 to 3 atomic percent of Sb (or 0.03 to 10 atomic percent of Bi), and a total of 3 to 42 atomic percent of at least one of Cu, Ge, Mg, and Zn.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an Ag alloy film. Particularly, it is preferably used as a reflective film or semi-transmissive reflective film for an optical information recording medium having high thermal conductivity/high reflectance/high durability in the field of optical information recording media, an electromagnetic-shielding film excellent in Ag aggregation resistance, and an optical reflective film on the back of a reflection type liquid crystal display device, or the like. The Ag alloy film of the present invention comprises an Ag base alloy containing Bi and/or Sb in a total amount of 0.005 to 10% (in terms of at %). Further, the present invention relates to a sputtering target used for the deposition of such an Ag alloy film.

Abstract: A silver alloy reflective film is used in an optical information recording medium and contains Ag as a main component, a total of 1 to 10 atomic percent of at least one selected from Nd, Gd, Y, Sm, La, and Ce, and a total of 2 to 10 atomic percent of at least one selected from Li, Mg, Al, Zn, Cu, Pt, Au, Pd, Ru, and Rh. The reflective film preferably further contains 0.01 to 3 atomic percent of at least one of Bi and Sb and/or 2 to 10 atomic percent of at least one selected from In, Sn, and Pb. An optical information recording medium includes the silver alloy reflective film. A silver alloy sputtering target has the same composition as the silver alloy reflective film.

Abstract: The present invention has been completed in view of such situation, and an object of the present invention is to find a Ag based alloy which exhibits high cohesion resistance, high light resistance, high heat resistance, high reflectivity, high transmissivity, low absorptivity, and high thermal conductivity of the level which had not been realized by the pure Ag or by the conventional Ag alloys, and on the bases of such alloy, to provide a semi-reflective film and a reflective film for an optical information recording medium provided with excellent writing/reading properties and long term reliability; sputtering target for an optical information recording medium used in depositing such semi-reflective film and the reflective film; and an optical information recording medium provided with such semi-reflective film or the reflective film. A semi-reflective film or reflective film for an optical information recording medium comprising a Ag based alloy, wherein the Ag based alloy comprises 0.005 to 0.

Abstract: A silver alloy reflective film is used in an optical information recording medium and contains silver as a main component, a total of 1 to 10 atomic percent of at least one rare-earth element, and a total of 1 to 15 atomic percent of at least one selected from In, Sn, Al, and Mg, in which the total content of the at least one rare-earth element and the at least one selected from In, Sn, Al, and Mg is 5 atomic percent or more. The silver alloy reflective film preferably further contains 0.01 to 3 atomic percent of at least one of Bi and Sb. A silver alloy sputtering target has the same composition as the silver alloy reflective film.

Abstract: A Ag alloy reflective film for an optical information recording medium contains Ag as a main component, and at least one selected from Nd, Sn, Gd and In in a total amount of more than 3.0 atomic percent and less than or equal to 10 atomic percent. The reflective film can further contain 0.01 to 3 atomic percent of at least one of Bi and Sb, and/or can further contain comprising 20 atomic percent or less of at least one of Mn, Cu, La and Zn. An optical information recording medium includes the Ag alloy reflective film and can be subjected to laser marking. A Ag alloy sputtering target has a similar composition to that of the Ag alloy reflective film.

Abstract: A silver-based alloy thin film is provided for the semi-reflective coating layer of optical discs. Alloy additions to silver include zinc, lithium, germanium, indium, tin, aluminum, and silicon. These alloys have moderate to high reflectivity and reasonable corrosion resistance in the ambient environment.

Abstract: One embodiment of an optical medium includes a substrate, a data recording layer positioned on the substrate, a selectively transmissive layer positioned on the data recording layer, and a label recording layer positioned on the selectively transmissive layer, the label recording layer optically accessible at only certain wavelengths through the data recording layer and through the selectively transmissive layer.

Abstract: A silver-based alloy thin film is provided for the highly reflective or semi-reflective coating layer of optical discs. Elements that can be added to silver to produce useful silver alloys include zinc, aluminum, copper, manganese, germanium, yttrium, bismuth, scandium, and cobalt. These alloys have moderate to high reflectivity and reasonable corrosion resistance in the ambient environment.

Abstract: A write-once optical disk comprises a substrate, a recording layer which is stacked on the substrate and comprised of a first reaction layer comprised of a material containing hydrogen and a second reaction layer comprised of a material having an extinction coefficient greater than that in the first reaction layer, and a protective layer which is stacked on the recording layer.

Abstract: An optical recording medium with a high productivity is provided which can certainly record/reproduce data even when a blue or blue-violet laser beam is used as an irradiation light. An optical recording medium has a substrate and a recording layer. The recording layer includes a recording portion and a coating portion. The recording portion and the coating portion are all made substantially from Bi and O. The ratio of the number of O atoms to the total number of Bi atoms and O atoms of the coating portion is less than that of the recording portion. The ratio of the number of O atoms of the recording portion is in the range of from 62% to 77%. The ratio of the number of O atoms to the total number of Bi atoms and O atoms of the coating portion is in the range of from 60% to 70%.

Abstract: The optical recording medium comprises an active layer of inorganic material, able to undergo deformations due to the effect of an optical radiation, presenting a front face designed to receive an optical radiation during writing operations and a rear face. An additional metal layer is arranged on the rear face of the active layer. The additional metal layer preferably has a thickness comprised between 9 nanometers and 12 nanometers. The inorganic material of the active layer can be a tellurium and zinc alloy comprising an atomic percentage of between 60% and 70% of zinc and between 30% and 40% of tellurium, and preferably 65% of zinc and 35% of tellurium. The medium can comprise a semi-reflecting layer arranged on the front face of the active layer and/or a protective layer made of polymer material on the rear face.

Abstract: A simple-structured recording medium without a mask layer and information recording and reproducing methods, which resolve thermal stability related problems arising during reproduction, the recording medium including a high melting point recording layer between first and second dielectric layers. The method of recording information on the recording medium involves irradiating a laser beam onto the recording medium to induce reaction and diffusion in the high melting point recording layer and the first and second dielectric layers. The method of reproducing information recorded on such a super-resolution near-field recording medium by the above method involves generating plasmon using crystalline particles of the high melting point recording layer and the first and second dielectric layers as a scatter source to reproduce information regardless of a diffraction limit of a laser used.

Abstract: A structure for storing digital data is provided, with a high reflectance layer comprising a noble metal formed over an underlying material layer, and a plurality of low reflectance portions comprising a mixture of a noble metal and an underlying material. The plurality of low reflectance portions have top surfaces comprising a compound of the underlying and the noble metal. A method of changing reflectance on a data storage disk is also disclosed. The method comprises the acts of irradiating a laser light beam onto a noble metal formed over an underlying layer, and raising the temperature of the noble metal above the melting temperature forming a compound of the noble metal and the underlying material.

Abstract: Disclosed is a multi-layer super resolution optical disc. In the multi-layer super resolution optical disc, at least two recording layers, each of which comprises at least two mask layers and impact absorption layers formed between the mask layers, are laminated, and intermediate layers of polymer thermo-set by ultraviolet rays are formed between the recording layers. Accordingly, jitter characteristics for recording marks are improved, and recording density is enhanced.

Abstract: An information recording medium has an excellent jitter characteristic with a considerable difference in reflectance between prior to and subsequent to recording. The information recording medium includes a recording layer which contains a material having a reflectance which varies by irradiation of a light beam, on which information is recorded as reflectance variations, and a substrate for supporting the recording layer, the recording layer including a metal nitride as a major component.

Abstract: An inexpensive optical recording medium is provided that can ensure recording and reproduction of data even in case of using blue or blue-violet laser light as irradiation light and can be stored for a long time. The optical recording medium includes a recording layer. The recording layer includes a recording portion and a covering portion covering at least one side of the recording portion in a thickness direction of the recording portion. The recording portion and the covering portion are substantially formed from a plurality of types of common constituent elements. Composition ratios of the constituent elements are different between the recording portion and the covering portion.

Abstract: Each of a semi-reflective film or reflective film for an optical information recording medium, and a Ag based alloy sputtering target includes a Ag based alloy containing 0.01 to 10 atomic percent of Li. The Ag based alloy exhibits high cohesion resistance, high light resistance, high heat resistance, high reflectivity, high transmissivity, low absorptivity, and high thermal conductivity of the level which had not been realized by the pure Ag or by the conventional Ag alloys. The resulting semi-reflective film and reflective film for an optical information recording medium containing the Ag based alloy exhibit excellent writing/reading properties and long term reliability. The sputtering target for an optical information recording medium is used in depositing the semi-reflective film and the reflective film. Using the semi-reflective film and/or the reflective film, an optical information recording medium is manufactured.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing structure in which a medium for forming structure contains a stacked composition of a light absorption layer and a thermal reaction layer, and microscopic structures are formed uniformly by separating the light absorption layer which generates heat by light absorption and the thermal reaction layer which reacts with heat to form structures. Therefore, provided is a method for manufacturing structure containing light irradiation to a medium for forming structure having a stacked composition containing a light absorption layer which contains a light absorption material, and a thermal reaction layer which contains a thermal reaction material, and etching the medium for forming structure which is irradiated with light.

Abstract: An optical recording medium includes a substrate, a first recording layer formed on the substrate and containing an element selected from the group consisting of Si, Ge, C, Sn, Zn and Cu as a primary component, and a second recording layer located in the vicinity of the first recording layer and containing Al as a primary component, the optical recording medium being constituted to be irradiated by a laser beam projected onto the side opposite from the substrate and the total thickness of the first recording layer and the second recording layer being equal to or thinner than 40 nm. According to the thus constituted optical recording medium, it is possible to decrease a noise level and improve a C/N ratio in a reproduced signal.

Abstract: A write once optical recording medium has an inorganic recording film which includes an oxide film having germanium oxide (GeO) as a principal component, and a metal film adjacent to the oxide film, the metal film having a titanium/silicon alloy (TiSi) as a principal component. According to this arrangement, it is possible to construct an inexpensive write once optical recording medium with large strength capable of high density recording by using a short wavelength light source and an optical system with a high numerical aperture having excellent characteristics.

Abstract: An optical information recording medium includes at least a reflecting layer, an optical information recording layer, a super-resolution layer and a protective layer. The super-resolution layer is a thin layer whose an optical constant changes nonlinearly due to a red shift of its band gap, and made of solid solution, compound or mixture of metal oxides containing two or more types of metal ions of the same valence. Ion radius unconformity ?R=|(RMi?RMj)/RMj| between ion radii RMi and RMj of two types of metal ions Mi and Mj arbitrarily selected from the two or more types of metal ions is 8% or less. The difference ?E=Eg?E between band gap energy Eg of the mixture of the metal oxides and energy E corresponding to a wavelength of the laser beam is a more 0.4 or less 1.4 eV.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an Ag alloy film. Particularly, it is preferably used as a reflective film or semi-transmissive reflective film for an optical information recording medium having high thermal conductivity/high reflectance/high durability in the field of optical information recording media, an electromagnetic-shielding film excellent in Ag aggregation resistance, and an optical reflective film on the back of a reflection type liquid crystal display device, or the like. The Ag alloy film of the present invention comprises an Ag base alloy containing Bi and/or Sb in a total amount of 0.005 to 10% (in terms of at %). Further, the present invention relates to a sputtering target used for the deposition of such an Ag alloy film.

Abstract: For recording information at high density even at blue-laser wavelengths, a write-once-read-many optical recording medium includes a first inorganic thin film and at least one of a second inorganic thin film and an organic thin film, in which the first inorganic thin film contains at least “R” and “O,” wherein “R” is at least one selected from Y, Bi, In, Mo, V and lanthanum series elements; and “O” is oxygen atom, and the second inorganic thin film and the organic thin film are capable of suppressing at least one of deformation and breakage of the first inorganic thin film and receiving the change of state of the first inorganic thin film.

Abstract: An optical recording medium includes a substrate 11 with a concave and convex shape for dividing a track area formed on its surface, an optical recording layer 12 having a compound consisting of at least tin (Sn), nitrogen (N) and oxygen (O) formed on the surface in which the concave and convex shape is formed and a light transmission layer 13 formed on this optical recording layer 12. Then, a compound composition SnxNyOz of tin (Sn) nitrogen (N) and oxygen (O) comprising the optical recording layer 12 is selected so as to satisfy 30<x<70 (atomic %), 1<y<20 (atomic %) and 20<z<60 (atomic %). According to this arrangement, the optical recording medium can improve jitter caused when Sn is used as a recording material.

Abstract: The main object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium which makes high densification of information possible, particularly a write-once-read-many optical recording medium having good recording signal characteristics to a wide range of recording powers. The present invention is one to accomplish the above object by providing a recording medium having a recording layer, whereby recording is carried out by heating the recording layer, characterized in that the recording layer contains a substance A which decomposes at a temperature which the recording layer reaches when heated for recording, and a substance B which does not undergo a chemical reaction or phase change at a temperature which the recording layer reaches when heated for recording.

Abstract: A silver-based alloy thin film is provided for the highly reflective or semi-reflective coating layer of optical discs. Elements that can be added to silver to produce useful silver alloys include zinc, aluminum, copper, manganese, germanium, yttrium, bismuth, scandium, and cobalt. These alloys have moderate to high reflectivity and reasonable corrosion resistance in the ambient environment.

Abstract: An information storage medium reduces low frequency noise, and an apparatus records and/or reproduces information thereon. The information storage medium includes a substrate; a recording layer formed on the substrate and including at least two materials in which the materials chemically react with each other due to an incident beam thereon having a write power and form a recording mark; and a super resolution reproduction layer formed on and/or under the recording layer and having a property in which optical characteristics of a partial area of a spot due to the incident beam are changed. The apparatus to record and/or reproduce information on the information storage medium includes a pickup unit having a light source, an objective lens to form a beam spot on the information storage medium, and a photodetector; a signal processor; and a controller.