Abstract: A sonication cleaning system is provided. The sonication cleaning system includes a cleaning tank configured to contain a liquid and a flow control system configured to cause a gradient cross flow of the liquid through the cleaning tank. The system further includes a sonication generator configured to agitate the liquid in the cleaning tank and a controller configured to vary a power applied to the sonication generator to agitate the liquid in the cleaning tank based on an oscillation position of a workpiece within the cleaning tank.

Abstract: Methods of cleaning workpieces are described. One method includes performing both a sonication cleaning operation and a rinse cleaning operation within a single cleaning tank. Another cleaning method described includes the use of cross flow of cleaning liquid within a cleaning tank while performing a rinse clean. The cleaning method includes the oscillation of one or more workpieces in the cleaning tank to perform the rinse clean.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing media having a moment keeper layer for heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR). One such method for writing information to a magnetic media having a moment keeper layer using heat assisted magnetic recording includes heating a portion of the media to a preselected temperature, where the media includes a magnetic recording layer adjacent to the keeper layer, where a Curie temperature of the keeper layer is greater than a Curie temperature of the recording layer, and where the preselected temperature is about equal to, or greater than, the Curie temperature of the recording layer, allowing the portion of the media to cool, and writing information to the media during the cooling.

Abstract: Aspects of embodiments of the present invention are directed toward a method of stacking disk-shaped substrates for polishing without using a centering shaft and an apparatus for implementing the method. A stack of disk-shaped substrates can be concentrically aligned without contacting the inside circumferential surfaces of the disk-shaped substrates by applying pressure to the outside edges of the disk-shaped substrates in different lateral directions.

Abstract: A method for cleaning plated polished disks used in hard drive media is provided. The method includes positioning plated polished disks in a first batch scrubber having multiple first brushes, wherein each of the plated polished disks is positioned between two of the first brushes, and scrubbing the plated polished disks with the first brushes. The method further includes positioning the plated polished disks scrubbed in the first batch scrubber in a second batch scrubber having multiple second brushes, wherein each of the plated polished disks is positioned between two of the second brushes, and scrubbing the plated polished disks with the second brushes.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic disk that includes, a base 110, a granular magnetic layer 160, and a auxiliary recording layer 180 disposed as an upper layer of the granular magnetic layer 160. The granular magnetic layer 160 has a granular structure in which a grain boundary portion is formed by segregation of a non-magnetic substance containing an oxide as a main component around magnetic particles containing a CoCrPt alloy grown in a columnar shape as a main component. The auxiliary recording layer 180 contains a CoCrPtRu alloy as a main component and has a film thickness of 1.5 nm to 4.0 nm. With this structure, the auxiliary recording layer can be thinned while maintaining the function thereof to improve SNR.

Abstract: A composite hard magnetic recording layer for a magnetic storage comprises a hard magnetic layer and a capping layer. The composite recording layer has a crystal structure where crystal grains include a portion within the magnetic layer and a portion within the capping layer.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for cooling a recording media disk in a deposition system. A manifold spacer including an input port to receive a coolant gas and a first output port to output the coolant gas couples a pair of cooling plates together, the pair of cooling plates having opposing surfaces spaced apart by the manifold spacer to accommodate a passage of disks to be cooled. A first shower manifold is coupled to a first of the pair of cooling plates, the first shower manifold receives the coolant gas from the first output port in the manifold spacer and outputs the coolant gas flow in a first direction perpendicular to the opposing cooling plate surfaces and toward the media disk to be cooled.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a substrate holder apparatus comprising a plate configured with an opening designed to receive a substrate; and a plurality of gripper assemblies disposed around the opening and configured to hold the substrate at a predetermined position within the opening such that the substrate is substantially coplanar with respect to a surface of the plate, at least one of the gripper assemblies comprising: a support element configured to grip an outside edge of the substrate, the support element mounted to a mount assembly configured to be attached to the substrate holder apparatus such that the support element holds the substrate at the predetermined position with respect to the plate.

Abstract: A disk processing system with a corner chamber having a heater assembly and a carrier rotary assembly configured to rotate the heater assembly.

Abstract: Recording media press systems and methods of operating such press systems. Press system embodiments include a first foil holder coupled to a first die, the first foil holder including a plurality of first tabs extending radially inward from the first die to clamp first portions of an outer perimeter of a first embossing foil against a surface of the first die and a second foil holder coupled to a second die, the second foil holder including a plurality of second tabs extending radially inward from the second die to clamp second portions of an outer perimeter of a second embossing foil against a surface of the second die. In an embodiment, the first and second outer perimeter portions are complementary arc segments to interdigitate the plurality of first tabs with the plurality of second tabs when the press is closed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods for designing and manufacturing hard masks used in the creation of patterned magnetic media and, more particularly, patterned magnetic recording media used in hard disk drives (e.g., bit patterned media (BPM)). In some embodiments, the hard mask incorporates at least one layer of Ta (tantalum) and at least one layer of C (carbon) and is used during ion implantation of a pattern onto magnetic media. The hard mask can be fabricated with a high aspect ratio to achieve small feature sizes while maintaining its effectiveness as a mask, is robust enough to withstand the ion implantation process, and can be removed after the ion implantation process with minimal damage to the magnetic media.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) media including a non-magnetic or superparamagnetic grain isolation magnetic anisotropy layer (GIMAL) to provide a template for initially well-isolated small grain microstructure as well as improvement of Ku in core grains of a magnetic recording layer. The GIMAL composition may be adjusted to have lattice parameters similar to a bottom magnetic recording layer and to provide a buffer for reducing interface strains caused by lattice mismatch between the bottom magnetic recording layer and an underlying layer.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed comprising a thermal sensor operable to detect at least one protrusion defect and at least one recess defect on a disk, the thermal sensor operable to generate a sensor signal. An attack time of the sensor signal is measured when the thermal sensor passes over one of the protrusion defect and the recess defect, and the protrusion defect is discriminated from the recess defect based on the attack time.

Abstract: A disk carrier for teaching disk positioning in a substrate changing system. The disk carrier composed of a panel having a disk opening configured to receive a disk and a plurality of beam sensors disposed around the disk opening to project beams parallel to a surface of the disk when secured within the disk opening. The plurality of beam sensors may be composed of at least one beam sensor on each of a front side and rear side of the panel.

Abstract: A disk is placed into a sonication cleaning tank containing a liquid. A first flow rate and a first sonication power are applied to the liquid to clean the disk. An opacity count is generated indicative of contaminants and/or bubbles in the liquid. Based at least in part on the opacity count, a second flow rate and a second sonication power are then applied to the liquid.

Abstract: A disk for a hard disk drive is provided. The disk comprises a substrate comprising aluminum, and a coating layer disposed over the substrate. The coating layer comprises an alloy of Ni, X1 and X2, wherein X1 comprises one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Ag, Au, B, Cr, Cu, Ga, In, Mn, Mo, Nb, Pb, Sb, Se, Sn, Te, W, Zn and Zr, and wherein X2 comprises either B or P, and wherein X1 and X2 do not comprise the same elements.