Optical data storage devices utilizing magnetic media and magneto-optic (MO) readout became commercially available in the last half of the 1980's. This technology has now progressed through three generations of international standard format products, and is today firmly positioned as a robust, highly reliable and extendible method for re-writable (erasable), high density optical storage of not only computer data, but also entertainment (audio, video) formats and other information. As with other forms of optical storage, this has been enabled by the development of low cost, compact solid state laser devices.

An additional key to the emergence of MO recording was the discovery and development from the early 1970's of amorphous magnetic alloy film materials with strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and thermo magnetic properties compatible with thermally assisted magnetic recording. These materials provided adequate signal-to-noise characteristics that made thermo magnetic recording feasible. MO recording technology offers options for the highest performance and quality combined with media resolvability, a prime attribute of optical storage

This handbook brings together in single volume expert contributions on the many aspects of MO data recording, including the materials in use, techniques for achieving recording function, and storage device subsystems. As a multiple author treatment, it brings perspective from many viewpoints and institutions. The insights delivered should be valuable to a wide audience from students to practitioners in all areas of information storage.

This should be a primary and seminal reference on the subject of magneto-optical storage of digitaldata. A fundamental strength is the wide range of topics addressed and the diversity of expertise represented. These characteristics distinguish this comprehensive treatment from single-author texts. Twenty-one authors and two editors have combined their individual knowledge into a work addressing a common set of objectives in exposition. The result is a collection in one work of perhaps 200 years of working experience in the field, an order of magnitude beyond the capability of any single author, regardless how able