An optical recording medium is provided which has a substrate and a signal
recording layer provided on the substrate and in which an information
signal is recorded in the form of microscopic pits. A light beam is
focused on the signal recording layer and some change of the light beam
carried by a return light from the signal recording layer is detected to
read the information signal recorded on the signal recording layer. The
optical recording medium has a diameter of 65 mm or less and a thickness
of 0.4 to 0.7 mm. An information signal recording area extends outwardly
from a radial position of 12.5 mm or less from the center of the medium.
The ratio in area between the information signal recording area and
non-signal recording area is 3.4 or more. The storage capacity of this
medium is 2 gigabytes or more. The optical recording medium has formed at
the center thereof a center hole around which an annular table-abutment
convexing to one side of the medium is formed. A magnetic-clamping hub is
installed in the center hole and thus the medium is magnetically clamped
to a rotation driving mechanism of an optical recording and/or
reproducing apparatus. The compactness and high density of recording of
the optical recording medium will contribute greatly to a further compact
structure of a recording and/or reproducing apparatus in which the medium
is to be used.