Normalized Hurricane Damage in the United States: 19002005

A magneto-optical recorder is disclosed in which an external magnetic field required for recording and erasing can be produced by a small-sized electromagnetic coil having a small magneto-motive force. The electromagnetic coil is made up of a magnetic core and a coil winding, and the outer peripheral portion of the coil winding other than that peripheral portion thereof which confronts a recording medium, is covered by a core material. A magnetic field emanating from the electromagnetic coil spreads in a narrow space, and can be applied to the recording medium with large intensity even when the electromagnetic coil has a small magneto-motive force. In the recorder, a magnetic body is disposed such that the electromagnetic coil and the magnetic body face each other, to concentrate the magnetic field generated by the electromagnetic coil, to the vicinity of that portion of the recording medium which is irradiated with a light spot. The length of the electromagnetic coil is made equal to or greater than the length of the recording area of the recording medium, to apply a substantially uniform magnetic field to the whole recording area without moving the electromagnetic coil.