Thermomagnetic recording device

Claim 1

A thermomagnetic recording device for recording information on a magnetic recording medium with a magnetic recording section having magnetic anisotropy across the thickness thereof, comprising: a light beam irradiation system for applying a light beam to said magnetic recording section to heat said magnetic recording section over a given area, thereby reducing the coercive force of the heated section; and a single-pole magnetic head including a ferromagnetic thin membrane of high permeability having an end face located opposite to said magnetic recording section, said ferromagnetic thin membrane extending perpendicularly to said magnetic recording section, a main body supporting said thin membrane, said main body including a pair of nonmagnetic half pieces forming a nonmagnetic distal end portion and a ferromagnetic proximal portion, said distal end portion comprising said end face of the head, said ferromagnetic thin membrane being held between both said half pieces and between said nonmagnetic portions at the portion of the head facing the magnetic recording medium and an electrical coil coupled to said main body for applying a perpendicular magnetic field to said recording section through said end face of said thin membrane, said ferromagnetic thin membrane having a thickness which is smaller than the dimension of said given area which is heated by said light beam irradiation system such that only part of the given heated aea is magnetized by said ferromagnetic thin membrane.