Abstract

Recently, there has been a resurgence of interest in the use of laser-induced phase changes as the recording mechanism^1-5 in optical storage. This approach is applicable both for write-once⁵ and for erasable recording^1-4. In the latter case there are stringent demands on the crystallization properties of the optical medium. First, heating by a pulsed laser should allow for the creation of amorphous domains in a polycrystalline layer. Secondly, a stability of the amorphous phase of at least, say, 10 years is required at temperatures as high as 70°C, whereas at elevated temperatures recrystallization should be feasible within one passage of a. preferably circular, light spot (typically < 1 µs). This paper illustrates that suitable materials for erasable recording can be found using the results of classical crystallization theory^6,7.

© 1987 Optical Society of America