The present invention provides an
optical recording medium which incorporates an inorganic based
recording layer which has a high reflectance, sufficient for
reproduction compatibility on devices such as CD-ROM drives, as well as a high degree of modulation between the state prior to recording and that after recording, as well as an information recording method therefor. Accordingly, an
optical recording medium comprises a substrate (2) which is substantially transparent with respect to a recording
light beam and a
reproduction light beam, a first
recording layer (3) which is layered on top of the substrate (2) and which incorporates as the main constituent a
metal which has a
low melting point and a high reflectance, and a second
recording layer (4) which is layered on top of the first recording layer (3) and which will, due to heat generated from
irradiation of a
light beam through the substrate (2), either mix, or alternatively react, with the first recording layer (3) to form an
alloy of low reflectance as well as forming irregularities or pitting in the surface, thereby enabling the recording of information. Due to the heat generated from
irradiation of a recording light beam through the substrate (2) the first recording layer (3) and the second recording layer (4) are either mixed, or alternatively reacted to form an
alloy as well as forming irregularities or pitting in the surface, thereby recording information.