MAGNETO-OPTICAL RECORDING MEDIUM

PURPOSE:To improve corrosion resistance, recording sensitivity and C/N by forming a reflecting layer of alloy films consisting of Si and inert metals, such as Au, Pt, Pd, Ag, and Cu. CONSTITUTION:The reflecting layer 5 consists of the alloy essentially consisting of at least one kind selected from the inert metals and the Si. Namely, the reflecting layer 5 essentially consisting of the inert metals and the Si has a high reflectivity at the boundary face with and adjacent magneto-optical recording layer 4 and is usable as the reflecting layer 5. Since this alloy has a low thermal conductivity, the diffusion of heat hardly arises and the sensitivity of recording and erasing is higher than that of the other reflecting layer. Further, this reflecting layer 5 is formed by using the chemically inert metals, the layer does not corrode. This alloy does not allow the permeation of moisture, corrosive gas, etc., has a low electrical conductivity and hardly allows the flow of corrosive currents and, therefore, the anode and cathode reaction hardly progress and the magneto-optical recording layer does not corrode. The magneto-optical recording medium 1 has excellent recording and reproducing characteristics and corrosion resistance in this way.