Method of recording and erasing information in an erasible optical

Abstract

An optical information recording medium is disclosed in which the recording layer is a material capable of absorbing energy and being reversibly converted between a substantially non-crystalline or amorphous state and a substantially crystalline state. The recording layer is a Te-Ge-Sb composition which also contains nitrogen. The optical recording medium includes a substrate onto which is sequentially deposited a first dielectric layer, a nitrogen-containing recording layer, a second dielectric layer and a metallic reflecting layer. In order to control the sensitivity of the medium to laser irradiation, the second dielectric layer is graded in thickness and progressively becomes thicker as a function of increasing radius. Alternatively, in another embodiment, the reflecting layer is graded in thickness, and progressively becomes thinner as a function of increasing radius. To further optimize the write/erase characteristics, the write to erase power ratio, as well as the recording duty cycle of the laser are varied as a function of radial position.