Estimation of thermal coefficients of magneto-optical media

Previously we described a method for estimating the thermal conductivity of magneto-optic recording media. The method relies on identifying the laser power that brings the maximum temperature of the TbFeCo layer to as high as the Curie temperature. We extensively use a similar method to estimate the heat capacity of a dielectric layer, a TbFeCo layer, and an aluminum alloy layer of magneto-optic recording media. Measurements are conducted on static disks with a beam of light focused on a TbFeCo layer. The method has the advantage of thermal diffusion depending on a multilayer structure and irradiation time. (C) 2002 Optical Society of America.