Abstract: A heat assisted magnetic recording disk drive comprises a magnetic recording media with a heat sink layer including at least a material being defined by the general structure Mn+1AXn, wherein M is a transition metal, A is an A-group element, X is C or N or a mixture of C and N, and n is a positive integer, or a material defined by the general structure Mn+1AXn, wherein M is a transition metal, X is one or both of C and N, and n is a positive integer, or a mixture of the materials being defined by the general structure Mn+1AXn and the material defined by the general structure Mn+1Xn, wherein the crystal structure of the materials is hexagonal with repeated M-X-M (quasi 2D) atomic layers. The atomic layers are stacked along the {right arrow over (c)}-axis that is oriented substantially parallel to the surface normal of the heat sink layer.

Abstract: A method for etching a media is disclosed. A first magnetic layer comprising grains is deposited with a segregant such that a portion of the first segregant covers a top surface of the grains of the first magnetic layer and a second portion of the first segregant separates the grains of the first magnetic layer. The first segregant is etched to remove the portion of the first segregant that covers the top surface of the grains.

Abstract: A method for etching a media is disclosed. A first magnetic layer comprising grains is deposited with a segregant such that a portion of the first segregant covers a top surface of the grains of the first magnetic layer and a second portion of the first segregant separates the grains of the first magnetic layer. The first segregant is etched to remove the portion of the first segregant that covers the top surface of the grains.

Abstract: A method of imprint lithography includes imprinting a first pattern with a first template on a first substrate of a lithographic template. A second pattern is imprinted with a second template on the substrate of the lithographic template. The first pattern and the second pattern at least partially overlap, thus forming a third pattern. The third pattern is lithographically formed on a second substrate with the lithographic template. In an embodiment, the first pattern is a concentric line pattern formed by thin film deposition. In an embodiment, the second pattern is a radial line pattern. In an embodiment the first pattern and the second pattern may have line frequency increased.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of thermal imprint lithography includes moving an imprinter against a surface to be imprinted, supplying energy to a layer of heating material, and forming features in the surface to be imprinted. The imprinter comprises a main body and the layer of heating material under the main body. In an embodiment the layer of heating material is electrically heated. In alternate embodiments, the layer of heating material is optically heated.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium with domain wall pinning sites including a substrate, a soft magnetic underlayer, and a magnetic recording layer overlying the soft magnetic underlayer. In one embodiment the magnetic recording layer has at least two grooves providing a track having first and second sidewalls formed by the grooves. The sidewalls provide a plurality of pinning sites formed between the sidewalls for pinning magnetic domain walls in the track. At least one of the pinning sites includes a first indentation in the first sidewall and a paired second indentation in the second sidewall. In one embodiment data can be stored within the magnetic recording layer by positioning a write head adjacent the track and inducing at least two magnetic domains defining a domain wall. The domain wall migrates to one of the pinning sites in the track.

Abstract: A patterned magnetic layer is formed by bombardment of a masked high Mrt magnetic layer with a combination of both heavy ion species and light ion species. The method can be implemented as sequential process steps or in a single process step with the proper heavy/light ion species mixture. Advantageously, the combined heavy/light ion species bombardment method results in a patterned magnetic layer having high topographical uniformity across its surface.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium for high-density recording, having a doped interlayer to preserve the uniformity and ordering of the magnetic nanoparticles in its recording layer. The interlayer is doped with a high electronegativity material. The dopant atoms in the interlayer interact with the ferromagnetic nanoparticles to promote the formation of a homogeneous, ordered monolayer of nanoparticles in the recording layer. In addition, the high electronegative property of the dopant atoms holds the nanoparticles in place during the subsequent annealing process to prevent sintering and disordering damage. In one embodiment, the dopant is a halogen or non-halogen material having a high electronegativity, which is not polymerized to the matrix material in the interlayer. The matrix material may be polymerized. An example of a doped interlayer is a fluorinated carbon film.

Abstract: A storage device includes a storage medium, a controller and a read/write head. The storage medium includes a substrate with a plurality of nano-structures arranged in an ordered pattern on a surface of the substrate. The controller is coupled to the storage medium. The controller has a read structure that extends over the substrate and a positioner adapted to adjust a position of the read structure relative to the substrate. The read/write head is mounted on the read structure and positioned over the substrate during operation. The read/write head is adapted to read and to write information to and from the plurality of nano-structures.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium with domain wall pinning sites including a substrate, a soft magnetic underlayer, and a magnetic recording layer overlying the soft magnetic underlayer. In one embodiment the magnetic recording layer has at least two grooves providing a track having first and second sidewalls formed by the grooves. The sidewalls provide a plurality of pinning sites formed between the sidewalls for pinning magnetic domain walls in the track. At least one of the pinning sites includes a first indentation in the first sidewall and a paired second indentation in the second sidewall. In one embodiment data can be stored within the magnetic recording layer by positioning a write head adjacent the track and inducing at least two magnetic domains defining a domain wall. The domain wall migrates to one of the pinning sites in the track.

Abstract: A tilted magnetic recording medium comprises a layer of magnetic material having a magnetic easy axis defined by tilted alignment of a particular crystalline phase of the magnetic material. A film of (101) and (011) textured L10 phase of a tetragonal crystalline magnetic material has crystalline c-axes oriented 45° to the medium surface normal. The L10 crystalline magnetic alloy comprises a first element selected from the group consisting of Co and Fe, and a second element selected from the group consisting of Pt and Pd. A seedlayer comprising a bcc or B2 crystal structure with a natural texture of (110) creates interfacial stress with the magnetic layer, giving rise to a pure (101) and (011) textured L10 crystalline film. A textured underlying surface facilitates preferential formation of the seedlayer and subsequent growth of the magnetic material to achieve tilted magnetic directions perpendicular to the recording tracks.

Abstract: A data recording device employs a bit patterned data recording medium that has an array of rows that are offset to one another. The rows are offset such that the bits are staggered in a direction that is normal to the direction in which the rows extend. The increased bit aspect ratio of the staggered bit pattern recording medium increases the linear recording density and enables a higher data recording rate.

Abstract: A method of performing writable optical recording of a medium to form multilevel oriented nano-structures therein, comprises steps of providing a disc-shaped, writable recording medium having a planar surface; and encoding data/information in the medium by forming a plurality of multilevel nano-structured pits in the surface by scanning with a focused spot of optical energy to form at least one data track therein, including scanning the optical spot in a cross-track direction while rotating the disc about a central axis.

Abstract: A thin film structure comprises a first layer including a first plurality of grains of magnetic material having a first intergranular exchange coupling, and a second layer positioned adjacent to the first layer and including a second plurality of grains of magnetic material having a second intergranular exchange coupling, wherein the second intergranular exchange coupling is larger than the first intergranular exchange coupling and wherein the Curie temperature of the first layer is greater than the Curie temperature of the second layer. A data storage system including the thin film structure is also provided.

Abstract: A magnetic recording layer having polycrystalline chemical ordered (COX)3Pt or (COX)3PtY alloys. The additive X comprises Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, Nb, Mo, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Cd, In, Sn, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os, B, or C, or any combination thereof. The additive Y comprises B, MgO, Al2O3, SiO2, P, CaO, CoO, B2O3, ZnO, NbO, Mo2O3, Co2O3, C, Cr, P, TiO2, Cr2O3, MnO, ZrO2, or BaO. The ratio of (CoX) to Pt is 2.33 to 4.00, plus or minus 5%. The additive Y may range from approximately 0 to 20% of the entire composition. The magnetic layer may be a constituent layer in a hard disc drive magnetic recording medium.

Abstract: A tilted magnetic recording medium comprises a layer of magnetic material having a magnetic easy axis defined by tilted alignment of a particular crystalline phase of the magnetic material. A film of (101) and (011) textured L10 phase of a tetragonal crystalline magnetic material has crystalline c-axes oriented 45° to the medium surface normal. The L10 crystalline magnetic alloy comprises a first element selected from the group consisting of Co and Fe, and a second element selected from the group consisting of Pt and Pd. A seedlayer comprising a bcc or B2 crystal structure with a natural texture of (110) creates interfacial stress with the magnetic layer, giving rise to a pure (101) and (011) textured L10 crystalline film. A textured underlying surface facilitates preferential formation of the seedlayer and subsequent growth of the magnetic material to achieve tilted magnetic directions perpendicular to the recording tracks.

Abstract: A thin film structure that includes a hard magnetic recording layer, a soft magnetic underlayer and an intermediate layer between the hard magnetic recording layer and the soft magnetic underlayer is disclosed. The intermediate layer comprises a soft magnetic interlayer, and a non-magnetic interlayer between the soft magnetic interlayer and the hard magnetic recording layer. The thin film structure can be a recording medium. The soft magnetic interlayer can be crystalline.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a substrate, a soft underlayer on the substrate, an interlayer on the soft underlayer, a magnetic layer on the interlayer, wherein the magnetic layer has a granular structure comprising magnetic grains separated by non-magnetic grain boundaries, and an exchange enhancement layer formed on the surface of the granular magnetic layer.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium for high-density recording, having a doped interlayer to preserve the uniformity and ordering of the magnetic nanoparticles in its recording layer. The interlayer is doped with a high electronegativity material. The dopant atoms in the interlayer interact with the ferromagnetic nanoparticles to promote the formation of a homogeneous, ordered monolayer of nanoparticles in the recording layer. In addition, the high electronegative property of the dopant atoms holds the nanoparticles in place during the subsequent annealing process to prevent sintering and disordering damage. In one embodiment, the dopant is a halogen or non-halogen material having a high electronegativity, which is not polymerized to the matrix material in the interlayer. The matrix material may be polymerized. An example of a doped interlayer is a fluorinated carbon film.

Abstract: Patterned thin films comprise regions of relatively low thermal conductivity material separated by regions of relatively high thermal conductivity material. The low thermal conductivity regions may be provided in the form of cylinders or cuboids which are arranged in a continuous matrix of the high thermal conductivity material. The thin film may be used as thermal control layers in data recording media such as heat assisted magnetic recording media.