It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for recording
information in an optical recording medium with a good direct overwriting
characteristic. The method for recording information in an optical
recording medium according to the present invention forms record marks in
a recording layer containing a phase change material by modulating the
power of a laser beam between a plurality of power levels including a
recording power Pw, an erasing power Pe and ground power Pb. The erasing
power Pe is set to a level within a region where a reflection coefficient
of a region between neighboring record marks approaches a reflection
coefficient of the record mark as the erasing power Pe increases. As a
result, a good overwriting characteristic can be obtained when data are
recorded at a high linear velocity.