Electrochemical formation of intermediate layer for Co/Pd multilayered media

Pd nanocluster seeds were formed on a soft magnetic underlayer (SUL) using an electrochemical substitution reaction, and were utilized as an intermediate layer for a Co/Pd multilayered ([Co/Pd]_n) perpendicular magnetic recording medium. A CoNiFeB film prepared with electroless deposition was used as SUL, which was immersed into a PdCl₂ solution for the formation of Pd seeds. The Pd seeds were found to effectively reduce the size of magnetic domains in the [Co/Pd]_n film deposited on them. The optimization of the concentration of the PdCl₂ solution and the use of the pretreatment process with a SnCl₂ solution were effective to obtain the smooth SUL surface with fine Pd seeds as small as 5 nm. The 20 nm-thick [Co/Pd]_n film deposited on the optimized Pd seeds/CoNiFeB SUL exhibited a high coercivity of 7.8 kOe and a small magnetic domain size of 69 nm. These results indicated that the combination of the Pd seeds and the electroless-deposited SUL was desirable in terms of the improvement not only in the magnetic properties of [Co/Pd]_n media but also in the mass productivity of the underlayer.     

利用FePt/Au多层膜结构制备垂直磁记录L10-FePt薄膜

利用磁控溅射方法在100℃的MgO单晶基片上制备了[FePt/Au]10多层膜,并研究了采用FePt/Au多层膜结构对FePt薄膜的有序化温度、矫顽力(HC)、垂直磁各向异性、晶粒尺寸以及颗粒间磁交换耦合作用的影响.磁性测试结果表明:FePt/Au多层膜在退火后具有较高的HC、良好的垂直磁各向异性、较小的晶粒尺寸且无磁交换耦合作用.截面高分辨电镜分析表明:Au可以缓解MgO和FePt之间较大的晶格错配,从而促进薄膜的垂直磁各向异性;同时,采用FePt/Au多层膜结构增加了FePt/Au界面能、应力能以及Au原子在薄膜中的扩散作用,促进了薄膜的有序化,从而有效降低了有序化温度,并且大幅度提高其HC.此外,Au原子部分扩散到FePt相的边界处,起到抑制FePt晶粒生长、隔离FePt颗粒的作用,从而显著降低了FePt晶粒的尺寸和颗粒间磁交换耦合作用.     

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.     

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.     

Extracting intergranular exchange coupling in perpendicular magnetic recording media

A micromagnetic numerical technique has been used to demonstrate how intergranular exchange coupling and intrinsic anisotropy field dispersion can be extracted from measuring two types of M-H curves. A realistic grain configuration formed by planar Voronoi cells is used to simulate perpendicular magnetic media. This technique effectively separates the effects of intergranular exchange coupling and anisotropy dispersion by finding their correlation to differentiated M-H curves with different initial magnetization states, even in the presence of thermal fluctuation. The validity of this method is investigated with a series of intergranular exchange couplings and anisotropy dispersions for different media thickness. A relationship between the auto-correlation function of an ac-erased sample and dispersion of the exchange interaction is demonstrated. Utilizing magnetization auto-correlation functions, the magnetic intergranular exchange coupling statistics show a correlation with the auto-correlation function shape in terms of zero-cross and undershoot values.     

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}     

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.     

热辅助磁盘探针存储的研究

描述了一种热辅助磁盘存储技术，该技术可应用于未来的高密度磁盘存储.记录介质是一种CoNi/Pt多层膜，它可用作垂直模式的磁记录介质.使用扫描隧道显微镜(STM)产生的隧道电流作为热源对磁膜进行局部加热.隧道电流随着加在STM针尖与磁膜之间的脉冲电压幅值的增大而增大.实验结果显示了圆形记录点在磁膜上生成，记录点尺寸与电压值相关，阈值电压为4V左右.当电压高于阈值时，记录点尺寸随着电压的增大而增大,平均尺寸为170nm；当电压低于阈值时，未发现记录点.一个简单的模型解释了以上实验现象. 关键词： 扫描隧道显微镜 热辅助磁盘存储技术 高密度磁盘存储     

Measurement of angular-dependent hysteresis loops in perpendicular magnetic recording media

The intrinsic angular-dependent hysteresis loops in perpendicular recording media have been measured by iteratively correcting the demagnetization effect in order to maintain the internal total field at a fixed angle. Both the angle and the magnitude of the applied field are adjusted simultaneously to compensate for the demagnetization field change. Significant differences have been observed between the conventional angular-dependent hysteresis loop with a constant applied field angle and the intrinsic angular-dependent hysteresis loop with a fixed total field angle. Without demagnetization corrections, the field range in which irreversible magnetization occurs changes as a function of the field angle, whereas it remains constant if proper demagnetization field corrections are applied.     

利用FePt/Au多层膜结构制备垂直磁记录L10-FePt薄膜

利用磁控溅射方法在100℃的MgO单晶基片上制备了［FePt/Au］₁₀多层膜,并研究了采用FePt/Au多层膜结构对FePt薄膜的有序化温度、矫顽力（H_C）、垂直磁各向异性、晶粒尺寸以及颗粒间磁交换耦合作用的影响.磁性测试结果表明：FePt/Au多层膜在退火后具有较高的H_C、良好的垂直磁各向异性、较小的晶粒尺寸且无磁交换耦合作用.截面高分辨电镜分析表明：Au可以缓解MgO和FePt之间较大的晶格错配,从而促进薄 关键词： 0-FePt薄膜')" href="#">L1₀-FePt薄膜 有序化温度 垂直磁各向异性 磁交换耦合作用     

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.     

TiN underlayer and overlayer for TbFeCo perpendicular magnetic recording media

TiN thin film is prepared by DC reactive sputtering in Ar+N₂ atmosphere and its suitability as underlayer and overlayer for TbFeCo perpendicular recording media as well as its effect on the magnetic properties of the latter have been studied. Only 5 nm TiN overlayer and 20 nm under layer can successfully protect the TbFeCo film from oxidation. Initially the coercivity is increased sharply from about 2 to 6 kOe for an increase of underlayer thickness to 60 nm then the increasing rate of coercivity becomes very slow. The saturation magnetization remains almost constant with the underlayer thickness. The remanent squareness ratio remains constant at 1.0 with the underlayer thickness up to 60 nm then decreases.     

Geometric and magnetic properties of Co/Pd system

We measured geometric and magnetic properties of Co films on the Pd(1 1 1) surface by X-ray photoelectron diffraction (XPD), X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) at the Co L_2,3 edge, and the surface magneto-optical Kerr effect (SMOKE) measurements. Co thin films are found to grow incoherently with fcc island structure on the smooth Pd(1 1 1) substrate. Comparison of MCD and SMOKE measurements of Co thin films grown on rough and smooth Pd(1 1 1) surfaces suggests that perpendicular remnant magnetization and Co orbital moment are enhanced by the rough interface. Pd capping layer also induces perpendicular orbital moment enhancement. These observations indicate the influence of hybridization between Co 3d and Pd 4d at the interface on the magnetic anisotropy.     

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.     

Preparation and recording characteristics of granular-type perpendicular magnetic recording media with thin intermediate layer

Granular-type media with thin Ru intermediate layer were prepared on a highly oriented high-B_s FeCo soft underlayer (SUL). A CoPt–TiO₂ recording layer on a Ru intermediate layer of only 2 nm had high-crystal orientation, high H_c of 6.5 kOe, and a high squareness ratio (SQ) of 0.99. The magnetic property of the SUL was also good. The recording performance was measured for the media with different Ru intermediate thicknesses by using a single-pole-type (SPT) head. The media had large reproduced output even for the Ru intermediate layer thickness of 2 nm.     

On the perpendicular anisotropy of Co/Pd multilayers

The two principal mechanisms for explaining the perpendicular anisotropy in Co–Pd multilayers were investigated. These mechanisms are the broken symmetry at sharp Co surfaces, and the magnetostriction of interfacial Co–Pd alloys under stress due to epitaxy with Pd. The approach was to examine multilayers in which the Co component was intentionally alloyed with different amounts of the Pd, keeping the total amount of Co and Pd constant. These multilayers were deposited both at room temperature, at which thermally activated interfacial intermixing augmented the intentional alloying, and at 77 K where sharper interfaces reflecting the intentional alloying were expected. Comparison of the properties of these two sets of multilayers clearly indicated that stressed interfacial alloying is the dominant mechanism. Low-temperature measurements supported the alloying model, and the presence of polarized Pd. Furthermore, the hard-axis magnetization was modeled with a distribution of local perpendicular anisotropies which reflect local composition variations.     

Temperature and bias voltage dependence of Co/Pd multilayer-based magnetic tunnel junctions with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy

Temperature- and bias voltage-dependent transport measurements of magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) with perpendicularly magnetized Co/Pd electrodes are presented. Magnetization measurements of the Co/Pd multilayers are performed to characterize the electrodes. The effects of the Co layer thickness in the Co/Pd bilayers, the annealing temperature, the Co thickness at the MgO barrier interface, and the number of bilayers on the tunneling magneto resistance (TMR) effect are investigated. TMR-ratios of about 11% at room temperature and 18.5% at 13 K are measured and two well-defined switching fields are observed. The results are compared to measurements of MTJs with Co-Fe-B electrodes and in-plane anisotropy.     

Comparison of media properties between hard/soft stacked composite and capping layer perpendicular recording media

The effect of soft layer thickness (t_Soft) of CoTaZr–SiO₂ and low Pt-containing CoCrPtO layers on media properties in hard/soft (H/S) stacked media is compared to media properties in conventional capping layer (CL) media. Coercivity and coercivity squareness in H/S stacked media continuously decrease with increasing t_Soft, while they increase in CL media. H/S stacked media with CoTaZr–SiO₂ layers having higher saturation magnetization and in-plane magnetic anisotropy constant exhibit stronger demagnetization effect. Compared to CL media, H/S stacked media with CoCrPtO soft layers improve signal-to-noise ratio and magnetic write width. However, the use of a relatively soft layer deteriorates adjacent track erasure and does not improve media writeability due to compensation effect between softer and harder layers to be used. These phenomena can be understood as undesirable side effects of a soft layer: higher demagnetization field and larger lattice mismatch.     

MgO/Pt界面对增强Co/Ni多层膜垂直磁各向异性及热稳定性的研究

采用直流磁控溅射法在玻璃基片上制备了Pt底层和MgO/Pt双底层的Co/Ni多层膜样品, 通过反常霍尔效应研究了不同MgO厚度和退火温度对样品垂直磁各向异性(perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, PMA)的影响. 随着底层中MgO厚度的逐渐增加, 样品的矫顽力也随之增强, 霍尔电阻变化不大; 对样品进行退火处理后发现, 单纯Pt底层的Co/Ni多层膜随着退火温度的升高, 霍尔电阻逐渐降低, 矫顽力则迅速降低, 热稳定性较差; 而当MgO/Pt双底层的样品在200 ℃退火后矫顽力大幅增加, 霍尔电阻略微有所减小, 更高的退火温度使得Co和Ni合金化, 导致多层膜的PMA特征减弱.