Magnetic properties of soft layer/FePt--MgO exchange coupled composite perpendicular recording media

The magnetic properties of exchange coupled composite （ECC） media that are composed of perpendicular magnetic recording media FePt MgO and two kinds of soft layers have been studied by using an x-ray diffractometer, a polar Kerr magneto-optical system （PMOKE） and a vibrating sample magnetometer （VSM）. The results show that ECC media can reduce the coercivities of perpendicular magnetic recording media FePt-MgO. The ECC media with granular-type soft layers have weaker exchange couplings between magnetic grains and the magnetization process, for ECC media of this kind mainly follow the Stoner Wohlfarth model.     

Ti(Cr)缓冲层对用于垂直磁记录材料CoCrTa介质磁特性和微结构的影响

利用直流对靶磁控溅射技术在单晶Si衬底上制备了C/CoCrTa/X (X=Cr，Ti)介质材料.分别采用振动样品磁强计、X射线衍射仪、扫描探针显微镜对样品的磁性、微结构等进行了测试分析.研究发现，Ti缓冲层有利于样品中Co晶粒的易轴垂直于膜面生长.以Ti为缓冲层的样品，颗粒尺寸和表面粗糙度较小，而且磁畴明显，说明以Ti为缓冲层的薄膜样品更适宜做垂直磁记录. 关键词： CoCrTa 垂直磁记录 缓冲层 微结构     

Writability issues in high-anisotropy perpendicular magnetic recording media

Challenges and recent developments associated with writability issues in high-anisotropy perpendicular recording media are reviewed. The writing field is limited by the high coercivity caused by the high anisotropy. Some new alterna- tives are proposed to solve the writability issues, including texture-tilting-assisted, domain-wall-assisted, energy-assisted magnetic recording technologies, and so on, In addition, we propose new alternatives for the next-generation of magnetic recording media.     

L1_0-FePt合金单层磁性薄膜的微磁学模拟

具有四方结构的L10-FePt合金因其具有高磁晶各向异性和良好的化学稳定性而成为超高密度薄膜磁记录介质的最佳选择.对实验制备得到的磁性能良好的垂直取向L10-FePt合金单层膜进行了微磁学分析.在传统微磁学模型的基础上,根据晶体的对称性,引入了四角磁晶各向异性能密度的唯象表达形式;又依据薄膜生长过程中晶格对称性的破坏,考虑了薄膜面内的应力,并引入了磁弹性能.以四角磁晶各向异性能和磁弹性能为重点,对L10-FePt合金单层膜的磁滞回线进行了详细的分析,并且用微磁学方法确定了薄膜面内应力的大小.     

Analysis of waveform from perpendicular magnetic printed media

Edge printing is one of the perpendicular magnetic printing methods for writing servo signals with high speed, high accuracy and low cost. Sub-peaks of waveform from edge printed media are concerned as the sub-peaks can cause errors during the read-back process. In this study, in order to reduce sub-peaks, the influence of printing field, bit length and patterned magnetic layer thickness of master medium on sub-peaks is investigated by using a metal-evaporated (ME) tape as a slave medium. The results show that sub-peak to main peak ratio decreases with stronger printing field, smaller bit length and thicker patterned magnetic layer of master media.     

Effect of the effective anisotropy field of soft layer on magnetic properties of soft/hard stacked media

Magnetic properties of soft/hard stacked perpendicular magnetic recording media were investigated using a two-moment model with taking account of demagnetizing energy. Demagnetizing energy of the soft layer may improve the uniformity of magnetic properties of the composite media and also decrease the interlayer thickness, although weaken the thermal stability a little. The application of high saturation magnetization (M_s) soft magnetic material as the soft layer may compensate for the undesirable contribution while maintaining its benefits.     

Designing magnetics of capped perpendicular media with minor-loop analysis

A novel method of analyzing the switching field distribution (SFD) and magnetic correlation length of perpendicular magnetic recording media that uses major and minor magnetization loops is proposed. By applying the analysis to a series of capped perpendicular media, we found that a thick capping layer with a low saturation magnetization effectively reduced SFD without rapidly increasing the magnetic correlation length. Transmission electron microscope observation suggests that the SFD is narrowed by the increased uniformity of intergranular exchange coupling via the thick capping layer. Evaluations of recording characteristics demonstrated a close correlation between narrower SFDs and improved recording performance. Reducing exchange coupling dispersion is a clear solution for improving the performance of recording media.     

Perpendicular magnetic anisotropy of CoPt–AlN composite film with nano-fiber structure

Co–Pt–AlN films were prepared by sputtering a Co–Pt–Al composite target in Ar+N₂ atmosphere. Upon thermal annealing at elevated temperatures, fcc CoPt and a-AlN are formed in the films as phases separated from one other. Both phases develop as fiber-like columnar grains vertical to the substrate and with their lateral size less than 10 nm. Because of the shape anisotropy of the magnetic fiber grains the CoPt–AlN film shows a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy at a thickness equal to or larger than about 25 nm while the Co–TiN [6] and CoPt–TiO₂ [11] films do not unless their thicknesses reach 50 and 100 nm, respectively. This suggests that both the shape anisotropy of the CoPt magnetic fiber grains and their mutual separation in an a-AlN medium work more effectively in the formation with the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. Such a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy of the CoPt–AlN film associated with the nano-scale feature makes it a very promising candidate for future recording media with ultra-high area density . PACS 75.30.Gw; 75.50.Kj; 81.15.Cd     

The role of short exchange length in the magnetization processes of L10-ordered FePt perpendicular media

A three-dimensional micromagnetic model with non-uniform grain size distribution has been built up to study the magnetization process in FePt L1₀ perpendicular media. A 3D model of a single FePt magnetic grain is also set up for comparison. The high magneto-crystalline anisotropy K_u results in a short exchange length l_ex in FePt nanograins. Therefore a magnetic grain is divided into smaller grids on the order of l_ex. The simulated perpendicular and longitudinal loops are consistent with experiments, and it is explained why the measured perpendicular H_c is relatively smaller compared with the saturation field of the longitudinal loop in the FePt perpendicular medium.     

Low moment SUL effects on write performances in a trailing shielded pole PMR head

As the magnetic moment of soft under layer (SUL) decreases, the magnetic saturation during the write process becomes severe. It induces some partial erasures in the media write pattern and results in poor write performance such as an output roll-off and signal-to-noise ratio degradation. This erasure is due to the head field longitudinal component at the write gap after the transition writing in the trailing shielded pole perpendicular recording head. In case the SUL has low magnetic moment and high write current is inputted, erasure bubble appears next to the write bubble because the head field perpendicular component switches from positive to negative in the polarity. But the erasure appears even without the negative perpendicular field, and the longitudinal head field of the write gap is dominant for the erasure.     

Heat Assisted Magnetic Recording with Matching Media and Recording Head Field

The dynamic performance of heat assisted magnetic recording （HAMR） on different media is investigated. Signal and signal-to-noise ratio enhancement are achieved in high coereivity perpendicular media with the aid of laser heating. Linear recording density is increased while saturation write current is lowered. Trailing field partial erasure is observed in lower coercivity media with a ring head, which causes signal reduction with increasing write current or application of a laser. Precautions should be taken against partial erasure in overall recording system optimization of HAMR in order to achieve ultrahigh recording density.     

Improvement of magnetic properties and read/write characteristics in SmCo5 perpendicular thin films

An SmCo₅ alloy is a promising candidate for ultra-high density magnetic recording media because of its strong uniaxial magnetocrystalline anisotropy, whose constant, K_u, is more than 1.1×10⁸ erg/cm³. Recently, we successfully obtained high perpendicular magnetic anisotropy for a sputter-deposited SmCo₅ thin film by introducing a Cu/Ti dual underlayer. However, it is necessary to improve magnetic properties and read/write (R/W) characteristics for applying SmCo₅ thin films to perpendicular magnetic recording media. In this study, we focused on reduction of magnetic domain size and change of a magnetization reversal process of SmCo₅ perpendicular magnetic thin films by introducing carbon (C) atoms into the constituent Cu underlayer. The magnetic domain size became small and the ratio of coercivity (H_c) against magnetic anisotropy (H_k) which is an index of the magnetization reversal process was increased by adding C atoms. We also evaluated the R/W characteristics of SmCo₅ double-layered media including C atoms. The medium noise was decreased and signal-to-noise ratio increased by introducing the C. The addition of C into the Cu underlayer is effective for changing the magnetization reversal process, reducing medium noise and increasing SNR.     

Nano-patterning of perpendicular magnetic recording media by low-energy implantation of chemically reactive ions

Magnetic nano-patterning of perpendicular hard disk media with perpendicular anisotropy, but preserving disk surface planarity, is presented here. Reactive ion implantation is used to locally modify the chemical composition (hence the magnetization and magnetic anisotropy) of the Co/Pd multilayer in irradiated areas. The procedure involves low energy, chemically reactive ion irradiation through a resist mask. Among N, P and As ions, P are shown to be most adequate to obtain optimum bit density and topography flatness for industrial Co/Pd multilayer media. The effect of this ion contributes to isolate perpendicular bits by destroying both anisotropy and magnetic exchange in the irradiated areas. Low ion fluences are effective due to the stabilization of atomic displacement levels by the chemical effect of covalent impurities.     

SNR improvement by intergranular exchange coupling in CGC perpendicular magnetic recording media

Effect of intergranular exchange coupling in coupled granular and continuous (CGC) perpendicular media was investigated in terms of improvement of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The exchange coupling improves SNR and byte error rate (BER); however, it tended to widen the magnetic track width (MWW) of a track. That degradation is of concern for the CGC media. This paper discusses intergranular exchange coupling in CGC media to optimize track density and linear density to achieve high areal density.     

多层膜［Co85Cr15/Pt］20的磁性、垂直磁记录特性和微结构的关系

采用磁控溅射法制备了性能优良的以Pt为缓冲层的［Co85₈₅Cr15_{15/Pt］2020 多层膜，研究了溅射气压对［Co8585Cr1515/Pt］2020多层膜微结构和磁性的 影响.研究结果表明，Ar溅射气压对［Co8585Cr1515/Pt］2020多层膜的微结构 、垂直磁各向异性和矫顽力有重要的影响 关键词： 溅射气压 多层膜 垂直磁各向异性 有效磁各向异性常数}     

The role of nucleation field of media in heat-assisted magnetic probe recording

We characterize a method of heat-assisted magnetic probe recording on perpendicular media. Heating source is field emission current from a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) tip. Recording media are three kinds of magnetic films, Co/Pt, CoNi/Pt, and Co/Pd multilayers with different nucleation fields. Pulses with amplitude of 5 V were applied between the STM tip and the recording medium. Experiments show that magnetic marks with an average size of 180 nm were formed on both Co/Pt and CoNi/Pt films whose nucleation fields are greater than their saturation magnetization. No marks were observed on the Co/Pd film whose nucleation field is smaller than its saturation magnetization. A model is built to simulate the dynamic process of domain formation in probe-based magnetic recording system. Simulation results agree with experiments and it explains the effect of the nucleation field of medium in perpendicular recording.     

Improvement of recording performances through exchange coupling in triple-layered PMR media

Improved recording performances with exchange coupling between bottom magnetic layer and medium magnetic layer in triple-type perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) media are presented. Fundamentally, triple-type PMR media with exchange coupling between magnetic layers reduces DC erase noise and improves writability. Furthermore, triple-type PMR media could be expected clear magnetic cluster as well as relatively sharp transition pattern. Consequently, better spectral integral signal-to-noise ratio (SpiSNR), improved OW and about 1.5–2.0 order better bit error rate (BER) performances in triple-type PMR media with exchange coupling between magnetic layers were attributed to the reduction of DC erase noise and sharp transition as well as improved writability. In addition, work of micro-magnetic modeling on SNR profiles could help to verify the understanding on the role of exchange coupling between magnetic layers in triple-type PMR media.     

Ring head and single pole head recording performance on 3D random SOMA media

Currently, self-organized magnetic array (SOMA) is a non-oriented media, with randomly distributed easy axis directions. We investigate the recording performance of SOMA under two different head types—Ring Head (RH) and single pole head (SPH). Our results show an interesting dependence of the recorded transition pattern on the field strength of RH, where a weak RH field generates longitudinal transition pattern and a strong RH field generates a perpendicular transition pattern in the media. The SPH only generates perpendicular transition patterns and has a higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) than that of the RH.     

Co-Cr/Al multilayers for perpendicular magnetic/magneto-optical two-way recording media

Co-Cr/Al multilayers exhibit excellent magneto-optical characteristics due to the well-defined interfaces between Co-Cr and Al layers. Consequently, these multilayers may be useful in media for perpendicular magnetic/magneto-optical two-way magnetic recording systems.     

An analysis of medium noise of Co-Cr double-layer films in perpendicular magnetic recording

The medium noise in perpendicular magnetic recording is discussed. The perpendicular recording mode was expected to prevent zig-zag walls around transitions, and the experimental result of low transition noise in Co-Cr media confirms this. Also, the main origin of the noise is concluded to be irregular clusters of grains in the film.