PHASE CHANGE RECORDING MEDIUM AND INFORMATION RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS USING THIS MEDIUM

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a phase change recording medium nearly free from recrystallization of a melting region during recording, having low cross-erase and high contrast and capable of securing a satisfactory CNR in the recording medium wherein high speed and high density recording is possible and to provide an information recording and reproducing apparatus using this medium. SOLUTION: The recording medium has a laminated structure including a substrate, an interference film, a recording film capable of reversibly changing atomic arrangement, a crystallization promoting film coming in contact with the recording film and a reflection film, wherein recording or erasure is reversibly performed to the recording film by using light. The elements composing the recording film have segregation or concentration distribution in the thickness direction of the recording film from a part in contact with the recording film. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT