Micromagnetic simulation with three models of FeCo/L10 FePt exchange-coupled particles for bit-patterned media

Compositing soft and hard materials is a promising method to decrease the coercivity of L10 FePt, which is considered to be a suitable material for bit-patterned media. This paper reports the simulation of three models of FeCo/L10 FePt exchange-coupled composite particles for bit patterned media by the OOMMF micromagnetic simulation software： the enclosed model, the side-enclosed model, and the top-covered model. All of them have the same volumes of the soft and hard parts but different shapes. Simulation results show that the switching fields for the three models can be reduced to about 10 kOe （1 Oe = 79.5775 A/m） and the factor gain can be improved to 1.4 when the interface exchange coefficient has a proper value. Compared to the other models, the enclosed model has a wider range of interface exchange coefficient values, in which a low switching field and high gain can be obtained. The dependence of the switching fields on the angle of the applied field shows that none of the three models are easily affected by the stray field of a magnetic head.     

Effects of array arrangements in nano-patterned thin film media

In this work, the effect of different arrays arrangements on the magnetic behaviour of patterned thin film media is simulated. The modeled films consist of 80×80 cobalt grains of uniform diameter (20 nm) distributed into two different array arrangement: hexagonal (triangular) or square arrays. In addition to that, for each array arrangement, two cases of anisotropy orientations, random and textured films are considered. For both array arrangements and media orientations, hysteresis loops at different array separation (d) were simulated. Predictions show that for closely packed films, the shearing effects on the magnetization loop are much larger for the square array arrangement than the hexagonal one. According to these predictions, the bit switching field distribution in interacting 2D systems is much narrower for the hexagonal array arrangement. This result could be very important for high-density magnetic recording where a narrow bit switching field distribution is required.     

Recording head field for SPT head combined with hard/soft magnetic composite pillar array media

The head field distribution for hard/soft magnetic composite pillar array media (CPA media) is significantly different from that of the conventional patterned media. The head field distribution for a CPA media-single-pole-type (SPT) head system which assumes 1 Tbits/in² recording is calculated by the three dimensional finite elements method. One of the features of the system is that a magnetic flux concentrates in a hard magnetic unit. The system is found to yield 80% of the field strength of SPT head and continuous SUL media system.     

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.     

Ultrahigh-density storage media prepared by artificially assisted self-assembling methods

Two types of recording media possessing nanodot structures were investigated. The media were prepared by an artificially assisted self-assembling (AASA) method, which includes simple nanopatterning using a nanoimprint and fine nanopatterning using self-assembling organic molecules. One type of recording media is circumferential magnetic patterned media prepared on a 2.5-in.-diam glass plate. A Ni master disk possessing spiral patterns with 60-250 nm width lands and a 400 nm width groove was pressed to a resist film on a CoCrPt film to transfer the spiral patterns. A diblock copolymer solution was cast into the obtained grooves, and then annealed to prepare self-assembling dot structures aligned along the grooves. According to the dot patterns, the lower magnetic films were patterned by ion milling to yield patterned media with 40 nm diameter. We have also prepared FePt dot media with high magnetic anisotropy for near-field and magnetic-field hybrid recording aiming at more than 1 Tbin.2 density. A Ni stamp disk with aligned dot structures was also prepared by the AASA method to produce patterned media at the lowest cost. The other type of media was organic patterned media for X-Y type near-field optical storage. Bulky dye molecules were evaporated in vacuum to produce self-assembling amorphous nanodots. The dots were arranged by the AASA method, i.e., according to the polymethylmethacrylate film hole arrays or chemically patterned surface.     

Domain-wall induced coupling between ferromagnetic layers

The remanent magnetization of a hard ferromagnetic CoPtCr layer is progressively decreased by repeated switching of a neighboring soft magnetic layer. We show that this effect depends strongly on the thickness of the CoPtCr layer and the spacing between the hard and soft layers. We propose a model that accounts for these results: An interlayer magnetostatic coupling is induced by large stray fields from domain walls that form within the soft layer during its magnetization reversal.     

Optical and Thermal Simulator for Laser-assisted Magnetic Recording

“Laser-assisted magnetic recording”, in which a recording media is heated by a laser beam while writing data, is attracting attention as a technology that enables a recording density of 1 Tb/in.². There exists another technology for media in which the recording layer is constructed with many small projections that enable high magnetic coercivity. This is called “patterned media”. For developing hard disk drives using these methods, we developed a simulator that analyzes the optical intensity distribution from the optical head for laser-assisted recording and the temperature profile on the patterned media. The simulator calculates the optical model using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. The thermal analysis of the three-dimensional model allows fast calculations using the alternating direction implicit (ADI) method. The heat source distribution data for thermal analysis is calculated in order to use the results of optical analysis. The optical and thermal analyses of the laser-assisted recording model were investigated with the simulator.     

Magnetic properties of hexagonal ferrite dot arrays

Patterned magnetic media have been considered as one of the promising candidates for future ultra-high-density magnetic recording. In this paper, a new kind of patterned medium based on hexagonal ferrite have been studied. We have successfully fabricated strontium ferrite dot arrays by electron beam lithography. Their magnetic properties are evaluated by magnetic force microscopy (MFM) and superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID). The results show the dot arrays have perpendicular anisotropy. Dots with the lateral size larger than 500 nm show multidomain magnetization configuration in the initial magnetization state. However, with dot size decreased to 500 nm, all the dots have single-domain configuration both in the initial magnetization state and remanent magnetization state.     

Fabrication challenges for patterned recording media

Lithographically patterned recording media are one of the approaches to achieving Tb/in² and beyond recording densities. This will require fabrication of sub-10 nm discrete magnetic islands covering a full disk with tight spacing and size distributions and a narrow switching field distribution. To become an economically successful technology, this will need to be achieved with high throughput and low cost. The technology to fabricate such patterned media will need to be developed, and may require innovative solutions such as self-assembly and nanoimprinting, along with improved magnetic thin films for achieving high anisotropy and narrow switching field distributions.     

Magnetization reversal in a preferred oriented (111) L1(0) FePt grown on a soft magnetic metallic glass for tilted magnetic recording

L1(0) FePt is an important material for the fabrication of high density perpendicular recording media, but the ultrahigh coercivity of L1(0) FePt restricts its use. Tilting of the magnetic easy axis and the introduction of a soft magnetic underlayer can solve this problem. However, high temperature processing and the requirement of epitaxial growth conditions for obtaining an L1(0) FePt phase are the main hurdles to be overcome. Here, we introduce a bilayered magnetic structure ((111) L1(0) FePt/glassy Fe(71)Nb(4)Hf(3)Y(2)B(20)/SiO(2)/Si) in which the magnetic easy axis of L1(0) FePt is tilted by ~36° from the film plane and epitaxial growth conditions are not required. The soft magnetic underlayer not only promotes the growth of L1(0) FePt with the preferred orientation but also provides an easy cost-effective micro/nanopatterning of recording bits. A detailed magnetic characterization of the bilayered structure in which the thickness of (111) L1(0) FePt with the soft magnetic Fe(71)Nb(4)Hf(3)Y(2)B(20) glassy underlayer varied from 5 to 60 nm is carried out in an effort to understand the magnetization switching mechanism. The magnetization switching behavior is almost the same for bilayered structures in which FePt layer thickness is >10 nm (greater than the domain wall thickness of FePt). For FePt film ~10 nm thick, magnetization reversal takes place in a very narrow field range. Magnetization reversal first takes place in the soft magnetic underlayer. On further increase in the reverse magnetic field, the domain wall in the soft magnetic layer compresses at the interface of the hard and soft layers. Once the domain wall energy becomes sufficiently large to overcome the nucleation energy of the domain wall in L1(0) FePt, the magnetization of the whole bilayer is reversed. This process takes place quickly because the domain walls in the hard layer do not need to move, and the formation of a narrower domain wall may not be favorable energetically. Our results showed that the present bilayered structure is very promising for the fabrication of tilted bit-patterned magnetic recording media.     

Silver nanostructure arrays abundant in sub-5 nm gaps as highly Raman-enhancing substrates

Two types of highly Raman-enhancing arrays substrates were fabricated using anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) templates by controlling the AAO template temperature and evaporated silver thickness during e-beam evaporating: complex patterned Ag nanoparticle arrays abundant in sub-5 nm gaps (type I); hexagonal Ag nanopore arrays (type II). The surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) enhancement factors (EF) of both substrates are estimated experimentally to exceed 10⁵, especially that of type I reaches 10⁷ due to the existence of numerous sub-5 nm gaps. The simulation using finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method confirmed that gap effect has significantly improved the substrates’ SERS activity.     

Patterned media with composite in-plane and perpendicular anisotropy recording layers

Magnetization reversal mechanism in nanostructures composed of exchange coupled bi-layers with in-plane and perpendicular anisotropy was investigated. Micromagnetic simulation was carried out for bit-patterned media with areal density of 5 Tb/in², as example. Magnetization of thermally stable recorded bit using a single layer may not switch under write field. However, a complete and fast switching is possible with an exchange coupling to a layer with in-plane anisotropy. By adjusting the thicknesses and intrinsic properties of the two layers, the composite recording layer still can retain perpendicular anisotropy. The exchange coupled structure with dual-anisotropy can be extended to magnetic memories.     

(0 0 1) Exchange-coupled FCC/L10 FePt bilayers

Exchange coupling between hard and soft magnetic materials has implications for both permanent magnet and magnetic recording technologies. This paper looks at exchange coupling of FCC FePt epitaxially grown onto (0 0 1) oriented L1₀ FePt deposited on (0 0 1) MgO substrates at elevated temperature. By varying the thickness of the FCC layer there is a relaxation of the single crystal FCC layer that produces a polycrystalline microstructure as evidenced by the development of rings in the electron diffraction pattern. A concurrent decoupling of the layers is apparent from magnetization curves with two distinct switching fields as the FCC layer thickness is increased above 20 nm. The results shown here confirm the importance of the epitaxial relationship between materials of disparate anisotropies in maintaining strong exchange coupling.     

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.     

Morphology response to strain field interferences in stacks of highly ordered quantum dot arrays

Twofold stacked InGaAs/GaAs quantum dot (QD) layers are grown on GaAs(001) substrates patterned with square arrays of shallow holes. We study the surface morphology of the second InGaAs QD layer as a function of pattern periodicity. Comparing our experimental results with a realistic simulation of the strain energy density E(str) distribution, we find that the second InGaAs QD layer sensitively responds to the lateral strain-field interferences generated by the buried periodic QD array. This response includes the well-known formation of vertically aligned QDs but also the occurrence of QDs on satellite strain energy density minima. Our calculations show that base size and shape as well as lateral orientation of both QD types are predefined by the E(str) distribution on the underlying surface.     

GdFeCo/AlN/TbFeCo薄膜的变温磁化性能研究

用磁控溅射法制备了GdFeCo/AlN/TbFeCo静磁耦合多层薄膜。振动样品磁强计和克尔磁滞回线测试装置的测试结果表明 :2 5℃不加外磁场时GdFeCo/AlN/TbFeCo静磁耦合多层薄膜读出层 (GdFeCo)的极向克尔角为零 ,读出层呈平面磁化 ;12 5℃不加外场时读出层的克尔角最大 (0 .5 4°) ,读出层的磁化方向为垂直磁化 ;随着温度增高 ,读出层由平面磁化转变为垂直磁化 ,在 75℃到 12 5℃温度范围内读出层磁化方向很快从平面磁化转变为垂直磁化。对磁化过程的机理研究表明 :饱和磁化强度和有效各向异性常量影响读出层磁化方向的转变过程 ,但主要受读出层饱和磁化强度的影响 ;在较高温度时读出层的磁化强度较小 ,退磁场能较小 ,在静磁耦合作用下 ,使GdFeCo读出层的磁化方向发生转变。制备的GdFeCo/AlN/TbFeCo静磁耦合多层薄膜适合作CAD MSR记录介质     

Fabrication of CoPt magnetic nanodot arrays by electrodeposition process

We attempted to fabricate patterned media using the electrochemical deposition process along with nanopatterned substrates prepared by the electron beam lithography (EBL), UV nanoimprint lithography (UV-NIL), and spin-on-glass nanoimprint lithography (SOG-NIL) approaches. CoPt was electrodeposited into the nanopatterned substrates and chemical mechanical polishing was carried out to planarize the surface. It was clarified that CoPt nanodot arrays were successfully deposited into the patterned nanopores fabricated by UV-NIL and SOG-NIL as well as by EBL with high area selectivity and uniformity. The density of the CoPt nanodot arrays deposited into the nanopores fabricated by EBL was equal up to an areal recording density of 250 Gbit/in².     

Controllable hydrothermal synthesis of ZnO nanowires arrays on Al-doped ZnO seed layer and patterning of ZnO nanowires arrays via surface modification of substrate

ZnO nanowire (NW) arrays are assembled on the Al-doped ZnO (AZO) seed layer by a hydrothermal process. Effects of the temperature and growth time of the hydrothermal process on morphological and photoluminescence properties of the as-assembled ZnO NW arrays are characterized and studied. Results indicate that the length and diameter of the ZnO NWs increase with a lengthening of the growth time at 80 °C and the hydrothermal temperature has a significant effect on the growth rate and the photoluminescence properties of the ZnO NW arrays. The patterned AZO seed layer is fabricated on a silicon substrate by combining a sol-gel process with an electron-beam lithography process, as well as a surface fluorination technique, and then the ZnO NW arrays are selectively grown on those patterned regions of the AZO seed layer by the hydrothermal process. Room-temperature photoluminescence spectra of the patterned ZnO NW arrays shows that only a strong UV emission at about 380 nm is observed, which implies that few crystal defects exist inside the as-grown ZnO NW arrays.     

Investigation of small-scale stray magnetic fields by magnetooptical methods

Domain structures with in-plane magnetization are investigated in magnetically hard films. A magnetooptical setup designed for studying stray magnetic fields combines the advantages of the vibrating-sample magnetometer and the magnetooptical method of signal detection. The sensitivity of measurements of the stray field normal component is ～0.1 Oe. The criteria for choosing the optimal parameters of magnetooptical media for information readout are established.