An information recording medium is provided that has high recording
sensitivity for recording information and superior repeated rewriting
performance. The information recording medium has at least a recording
layer that is changeable between a crystalline phase and an amorphous
phase by applying a laser beam or electric current and a dielectric
layer. The dielectric layer contains at least C, Si, Sn and O.
Alternatively, the information recording medium includes at least two
information layers with at least one of the information layer including
at least a recording layer that is changeable between a crystalline phase
and an amorphous phase by applying a laser beam or electric current and a
dielectric layer. The dielectric layer contains at least C, Si, Sn and O.