Optical recording medium and manufacturing method thereof

Abstract

An optical tape including an optical recording layer for permitting information to be optically recorded thereon and a light-reflective magnetic layer. The light-reflective magnetic layer which reflects light projected onto the recording layer, also permits magnetic recording or magneto-optical recording to be performed thereon, thereby increasing a storage capacity of the optical tape remarkably. Further, the optical tape is provided with a layer to form guiding grooves for tracking control. The layer to form guiding grooves is made up of ultraviolet-hardening resin, photo-resist, or a photochromic material. For example, in the case of using ultraviolet-hardening resin, after a guiding groove pattern has been exposed by projecting an ultraviolet ray on a layer made up of ultraviolet-hardening resin, the exposed areas harden to form areas corresponding to guiding grooves between those exposed areas. The guiding grooves are formed by removing the areas corresponding to guiding grooves from the layer made up of the ultraviolet-hardening resin. Additionally, along with a guiding groove pattern, an index pattern can also be exposed. The guiding grooves thus formed do not reduce the recording density for information of the optical tape.