Abstract: A laminated magnetic recording structure for use in perpendicular or longitudinal recording is described. A small amount of ferromagnetic coupling is added between the two magnetic layers that are sufficiently decoupled to switch independently. In one embodiment the coupling is achieved by doping the spacer layer with a ferromagnetic material. Ruthenium (Ru), which is a preferred nonmagnetic material for spacer layers with cobalt (Co) being the preferred magnetic material. The weak ferromagnetic coupling can also be achieved through the use of platinum, palladium and alloys thereof for the spacer layer without the addition of a ferromagnetic element, but alternatively they can also be doped with ferromagnetic elements. For embodiments for perpendicular recording the spacer layer further can additionally comprise oxides of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Si, Ta, Ti, Nb, Cr, V and B.

Abstract: A patterned perpendicular magnetic recording medium has discrete magnetic islands, each of which has a recording layer (RL) structure that comprises two exchange-coupled ferromagnetic layers. The RL structure may be an “exchange-spring” RL structure with an upper ferromagnetic layer (MAG2), sometimes called the exchange-spring layer (ESL), ferromagnetically coupled to a lower ferromagnetic layer (MAG1), sometimes called the media layer (ML). The RL structure may also include a coupling layer (CL) between MAG1 and MAG2 that permits ferromagnetic coupling. The interlayer exchange coupling between MAG1 and MAG2 may be optimized, in part, by adjusting the materials and thickness of the CL. The RL structure may also include a ferromagnetic lateral coupling layer (LCL) that is in contact with at least one of MAG1 and MAG2 for mediating intergranular exchange coupling in the ferromagnetic layer or layers with which it is in contact (MAG2 or MAG1).

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording system and medium has a multilayered recording layer that includes an exchange-spring structure and a ferromagnetic lateral coupling layer (LCL). The exchange-spring structure is made up of two ferromagnetically exchange-coupled magnetic layers (MAG1 and MAG2), each with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. MAG1 and MAG2 may have a coupling layer (CL) located between them that permits ferromagnetic exchange coupling of MAG1 with MAG2. The LCL is located either above or below MAG1 and in direct contact with MAG1 and mediates an effective intergranular exchange coupling in MAG1. The ferromagnetic alloy in the LCL has significantly greater intergranular exchange coupling than the ferromagnetic alloy in MAG1, which typically will include segregants such as oxides. The LCL is preferably free of oxides or other non-metallic segregants, which would tend to reduce intergranular exchange coupling in the LCL.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording medium has an “exchange-spring” type magnetic recording layer (RL) with an improved coupling layer (CL). The RL includes the first or lower ferromagnetic layer MAG1, sometimes called the “media” layer, the second or upper ferromagnetic layer MAG2, sometimes called the “exchange-spring” layer, and the intermediate CL that provides ferromagnetic exchange coupling between MAG1 and MAG2. The CL is formed of NiCr or RuCr based alloys, or CoCr or CoCrB alloys with high Cr and/or B content (Cr plus B>about 25 atomic percent), or RuCoCr alloys with low Co content (<about 65 atomic percent). For each CL composition there is a CL thickness range that provides the optimal interlayer exchange coupling between MAG1 and MAG2. The selected CL materials provide an exchange-type perpendicular magnetic recording medium with good magnetic performance, while the relatively high amount of Cr of the CL improves the corrosion resistance of the medium.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording system and medium has a multilayered recording layer that includes an exchange-spring structure and a ferromagnetic lateral coupling layer (LCL). The exchange-spring structure is made up of two ferromagnetically exchange-coupled magnetic layers (MAG1 and MAG2), each with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. MAG1 and MAG2 may have a coupling layer (CL) located between them that permits ferromagnetic exchange coupling of MAG1 with MAG2. The LCL is located either above or below MAG1 and in direct contact with MAG1 and mediates an effective intergranular exchange coupling in MAG1. The ferromagnetic alloy in the LCL has significantly greater intergranular exchange coupling than the ferromagnetic alloy in MAG1, which typically will include segregants such as oxides. The LCL is preferably free of oxides or other non-metallic segregants, which would tend to reduce intergranular exchange coupling in the LCL.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording system and medium has a multilayered recording layer that includes an exchange-spring structure and a ferromagnetic lateral coupling layer (LCL). The exchange-spring structure is made up of two ferromagnetically exchange-coupled magnetic layers (MAG1 and MAG2), each with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. MAG1 and MAG2 may have a coupling layer (CL) located between them that permits ferromagnetic exchange coupling of MAG1 with MAG2. The LCL is located either above or below MAG1 and in direct contact with MAG1 and mediates an effective intergranular exchange coupling in MAG1. The ferromagnetic alloy in the LCL has significantly greater intergranular exchange coupling than the ferromagnetic alloy in MAG1, which typically will include segregants such as oxides. The LCL is preferably free of oxides or other non-metallic segregants, which would tend to reduce intergranular exchange coupling in the LCL.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording system and medium has a multilayered recording layer that includes an exchange-spring structure and a ferromagnetic lateral coupling layer (LCL). The exchange-spring structure is made up of two ferromagnetically exchange-coupled magnetic layers (MAG1 and MAG2), each with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. MAG1 and MAG2 are either in direct contact with one another or have a coupling layer (CL) located between them. The LCL is located in direct contact with MAG2 and mediates intergranular exchange coupling in MAG2. The ferromagnetic alloy in the LCL has significantly greater intergranular exchange coupling than the ferromagnetic alloy in MAG2, which typically will include segregants such as oxides. The LCL is preferably free of oxides or other segregants, which would tend to reduce intergranular exchange coupling in the LCL.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording system uses an exchange-spring type of perpendicular magnetic recording medium. The medium has a recording layer (RL) that includes a lower media layer (ML) and a multilayer exchange-spring layer (ESL) above the ML. The high anisotropy field (high-Hk) lower ML and the multilayer ESL are exchange-coupled across a coupling layer. The multilayer ESL has at least two ESLs separated by a coupling layer, with each of the ESLs having an Hk substantially less than the Hk of the ML. The exchange-spring structure with the multilayer ESL takes advantage of the fact that the write field magnitude and write field gradient vary as a function of distance from the write pole. The thicknesses and Hk values of each of the ESLs can be independently varied to optimize the overall recording performance of the medium.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording medium has an “exchange-spring” type magnetic recording layer (RL) formed of two ferromagnetic layers with substantially similar anisotropy fields that are ferromagnetically exchange-coupled by a nonmagnetic or weakly ferromagnetic coupling layer. Because the write head produces a larger magnetic field and larger field gradient at the upper portion of the RL, while the field strength decreases further inside the RL, the upper ferromagnetic layer can have a high anisotropy field. The high field and field gradient near the top of the RL, where the upper ferromagnetic layer is located, reverses the magnetization of the upper ferromagnetic layer, which then assists in the magnetization reversal of the lower ferromagnetic layer. Because both ferromagnetic layers in this exchange-spring type RL have a high anisotropy field, the thermal stability of the medium is not compromised. The medium shows improved writability, i.e.

Abstract: A media architecture is optimized for discrete track recording. A capped or exchange-spring media uses a thin media structure and incorporates higher moment density magnetic layers. A thin exchange coupling layer is used in conjunction with a cap layer to control the reversal mechanism and exchange. Thus, the exchange coupling layer mediates the interaction between the two outer magnetic layers. The thickness of the exchange coupling layer is tuned by monitoring the media signal-to-noise ratio, track width and bit error rate. The recording performance is enhanced by tuning the intergranular exchange in the system through the use of the high-moment cap as writeability, resolution and noise are improved.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording medium includes a metamagnetic antiferromagnetically-coupled (AFC) layer between the recording layer (RL) and the soft magnetically permeable underlayer (SUL). The metamagnetic AFC layer has essentially no net magnetic moment in the absence of a magnetic field, but is highly ferromagnetic in the presence of a magnetic field above a threshold field. Thus the metamagnetic AFC layer does not contribute to the readback signal during reading, but channels the write field to the SUL during writing because the threshold field is selected to be below the write field. An exchange-break layer EBL is located between the metamagnetic AFC layer and the RL. The metamagnetic AFC layer contains films with a crystalline structure suitable as a growth template for the EBL and RL, so the metamagnetic AFC layer also functions as part of an “effective EBL”, thereby allowing the actual EBL to be made as thin as possible.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording medium, such as a perpendicular magnetic recording disk, has a magnetic “torque” layer (MTL) that exerts a magnetic torque onto the perpendicular magnetic recording layer (RL) in the presence of the applied perpendicular write field. The MTL thus acts as a write assist layer in reversing the magnetization of the RL. A coupling layer (CL) is located between the MTL and the RL and provides the appropriate ferromagnetic coupling strength between the MTL and the RL.

Abstract: A patterned perpendicular magnetic recording medium has discrete magnetic islands, each of which has a recording layer (RL) structure that comprises two exchange-coupled ferromagnetic layers. The RL structure may be an “exchange-spring” RL structure with an upper ferromagnetic layer (MAG2), sometimes called the exchange-spring layer (ESL), ferromagnetically coupled to a lower ferromagnetic layer (MAG1), sometimes called the media layer (ML). The RL structure may also include a coupling layer (CL) between MAG1 and MAG2 that permits ferromagnetic coupling. The interlayer exchange coupling between MAG1 and MAG2 may be optimized, in part, by adjusting the materials and thickness of the CL. The RL structure may also include a ferromagnetic lateral coupling layer (LCL) that is in contact with at least one of MAG1 and MAG2 for mediating intergranular exchange coupling in the ferromagnetic layer or layers with which it is in contact (MAG2 or MAG1).

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording system and medium has a multilayered recording layer that includes an exchange-spring structure and a ferromagnetic lateral coupling layer (LCL). The exchange-spring structure is made up of two ferromagnetically exchange-coupled magnetic layers (MAG1 and MAG2), each with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. MAG1 and MAG2 may have a coupling layer (CL) located between them that permits ferromagnetic exchange coupling of MAG1 with MAG2. The LCL is located either above or below MAG1 and in direct contact with MAG1 and mediates an effective intergranular exchange coupling in MAG1. The ferromagnetic alloy in the LCL has significantly greater intergranular exchange coupling than the ferromagnetic alloy in MAG1, which typically will include segregants such as oxides. The LCL is preferably free of oxides or other non-metallic segregants, which would tend to reduce intergranular exchange coupling in the LCL.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording medium has an “exchange-spring” type magnetic recording layer (RL) with an improved coupling layer (CL). The RL includes the first or lower ferromagnetic layer MAG1, sometimes called the “media” layer, the second or upper ferromagnetic layer MAG2, sometimes called the “exchange-spring” layer, and the intermediate CL that provides ferromagnetic exchange coupling between MAG1 and MAG2. The CL is formed of NiCr or RuCr based alloys, or CoCr or CoCrB alloys with high Cr and/or B content (Cr plus B>about 25 atomic percent), or RuCoCr alloys with low Co content (<about 65 atomic percent). For each CL composition there is a CL thickness range that provides the optimal interlayer exchange coupling between MAG1 and MAG2. The selected CL materials provide an exchange-type perpendicular magnetic recording medium with good magnetic performance, while the relatively high amount of Cr of the CL improves the corrosion resistance of the medium.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording system uses an exchange-spring type of perpendicular magnetic recording medium. The medium has a recording layer (RL) that includes a lower media layer (ML) and a multilayer exchange-spring layer (ESL) above the ML. The high anisotropy field (high-Hk) lower ML and the multilayer ESL are exchange-coupled across a coupling layer. The multilayer ESL has at least two ESLs separated by a coupling layer, with each of the ESLs having an Hk substantially less than the Hk of the ML. The exchange-spring structure with the multilayer ESL takes advantage of the fact that the write field magnitude and write field gradient vary as a function of distance from the write pole. The thicknesses and Hk values of each of the ESLs can be independently varied to optimize the overall recording performance of the medium.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording layer (RL) structure has multiple granular ferromagnetic layers (MAGs) that are separated by ferromagnetic exchange-coupling layers (ECLs) as interlayers between the MAGS. The ECLs provide effective intergranular exchange-coupling in the MAGs. Each MAG is sufficiently thick to support independent recording states that are thermally stable, and does not rely on the overall RL thickness for thermal stability. Each ECL has significant intralayer coupling of its grains. The material of the ECL may be a CoCr alloy, such as a CoCrPtB alloy. The Cr and B in the ECL create sam11 segregation regions or sub-grains in the ECL that are exchange-coupled on a length-scale smaller than the grain size. For each MAG grain, there exist a multitude of magnetic states corresponding to different transition positions in the ECL.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording medium has a multilayer recording layer (RL) structure that includes a ferromagnetic intergranular exchange enhancement layer for mediating intergranular exchange coupling in the other ferromagnetic layers in the RL structure. The RL structure may be a multilayer of a first ferromagnetic layer (MAG1) of granular polycrystalline Co alloy with Ta-oxide, a second ferromagnetic layer (MAG2) of granular polycrystalline Co alloy with Si-oxide, and an oxide-free CoCr capping layer on top of and in contact with MAG2 for mediating intergranular exchange coupling in MAG1 and MAG2. The RL structure may also be a multilayer of an intergranular exchange enhancement interlayer (IL) in between two ferromagnetic layers, MAG1 and MAG2, each with reduced or no intergranular exchange coupling. Because the IL is in direct contact with both MAG1 and MAG2, it directly mediates intergranular exchange coupling in each of MAG1 and MAG2.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording system and medium has a multilayered recording layer that includes an exchange-spring structure and a ferromagnetic lateral coupling layer (LCL). The exchange-spring structure is made up of two ferromagnetically exchange-coupled magnetic layers (MAG1 and MAG2), each with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. MAG1 and MAG2 are either in direct contact with one another or have a coupling layer (CL) located between them. The LCL is located in direct contact with MAG2 and mediates intergranular exchange coupling in MAG2. The ferromagnetic alloy in the LCL has significantly greater intergranular exchange coupling than the ferromagnetic alloy in MAG2, which typically will include segregants such as oxides. The LCL is preferably free of oxides or other segregants, which would tend to reduce intergranular exchange coupling in the LCL.

Abstract: A high performance perpendicular media with optimal exchange coupling between grains has improved thermal stability, writeability, and signal-to-noise ratio in a selected range of allowable intergranular exchange between the grains for high performing media. The writeability and byte error rate of a TaOx media are demonstrated to be substantially better than that of other designs.