Optical information recording method and medium

1. An optical information recording medium used in a method of recording information by irradiating the medium with a laser having a wavelength no greater than 450 nm, wherein a recording layer of the optical information recording medium contains a phthalocyanine compound represented by Formula (I):

wherein R α1 to R α8 and R β1 to R β8 each independently represents one selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, an alkylsulfonyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, an arylsulfonyl group having 6 to 14 carbon atoms, and an aralkylsulfonyl group having 7 to 15 carbon atoms; and M represents a metal selected from the group consisting of zinc, magnesium, copper, nickel, and palladium and wherein at least four of the R α1 -R α8 substituents in the Formula (I) are not simultaneously hydrogen atoms;

wherein the refractive index of the recording layer is more than 1.5 and less than 1.9 at the wavelength of laser light used in recording; and

wherein a pre-groove having a track pitch of 0.2 to 0.5 μm is formed on the surface of the substrate disposed with the recording layer of the medium.

2. The optical information recording medium of claim 1 , wherein all of R β1 to R β8 in the Formula (I) are simultaneously hydrogen atoms.

3. The optical information recording medium of claim 2 , wherein R α1 or R α2 , R α3 or R α4 , R α5 or R α6 , and R α7 or R α8 are the same alkylsulfonyl groups having 1 to 10 carbon atoms.

4. The optical information recording medium of claim 3 , wherein said same alkylsulfonyl groups are sec-butyl groups.

5. The optical information recording medium of claim 4 , wherein M represents copper.

6. The optical information recording medium of claim 2 , wherein R α1 or R α2 , R α3 or R α4 , R α5 or R α6 , and R α7 or R α8 are the same alkylsulfonyl groups having 6 to 10 carbon atoms.

7. The optical information recording medium of claim 2 , wherein R α1 or R α2 , R α3 or R α4 , R α5 or R α6 , and R α7 or R α8 are phenylsulfonyl groups.

8. The optical information recording medium of claim 7 , wherein M represents copper.

9. The optical information recording medium of claim 1 , wherein the medium further comprises a reflective layer of metal formed disposed on the recording layer.

10. The optical information recording medium of claim 1 , wherein the medium further comprises a protective layer disposed on the recording layer.

11. The optical information recording medium of claim 1 , wherein the depth of the pre-groove is from 0.01 to 0.18 μm.

12. The optical information recording medium of claim 1 , wherein the depth of the pre-groove is from 0.02 to 0.15 μm.

13. An optical information recording medium used in a method of recording information by irradiating the medium with a laser having a wavelength no greater than 450 nm, wherein a recording layer of the optical information recording medium contains a phthalocyanine compound represented by Formula (I):

wherein R α1 to R α8 and R β1 to R β8 each independently represents one selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, an alkylsulfonyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, an arylsulfonyl group having 6 to 14 carbon atoms, and an aralkylsulfonyl group having 7 to 15 carbon atoms; and M represents two hydrogen atoms, a metal, a metal oxide, or a metal having a ligand, and wherein at least four of the substituents in the Formula (I), namely, R α1 or R α2 , R α3 or R α4 , R α5 or R α6 , and R α7 or R α8 , are not simultaneously hydrogen atoms;

wherein the refractive index of the recording layer is more than 1.5 and less than 1.9 at the wavelength of laser light used in recording and

wherein a pre-groove having a track pitch of 0.2 to 0.5 μm is formed on the surface of the substrate disposed with the recording layer of the medium.