Phase-change optical recording media for blue-green wavelength region was investigated. The erasability decreased significantly at shorter wavelength, because the temperature distribution across a beam scanning direction becomes steep, as the beam spot diameter becomes small in proportion to λ/NA. By using a very thin upper layer with a thickness of 0-10nm, thermal diffusion across the track could be enhanced. Consequently, the erasable width could be extended and the erasability was improved. Otherwise, when the amorphous mark width was confined by a groove width and the phase difference between amorphous and crystalline states was used, high erasability of more than 20dB was maintained. Finally, overwrite repeatability of more than 10000 cycle were demonstrated.
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