Abstract: A deposition system is provided, where conductive targets of similar composition are situated opposing each other. The system is aligned parallel with a substrate, which is located outside the resulting plasma that is largely confined between the two cathodes. A “plasma cage” is formed wherein the carbon atoms collide with accelerating electrons and get highly ionized. The electrons are trapped inside the plasma cage, while the ionized carbon atoms are deposited on the surface of the substrate. Since the electrons are confined to the plasma cage, no substrate damage or heating occurs. Additionally, argon atoms, which are used to ignite and sustain the plasma and to sputter carbon atoms from the target, do not reach the substrate, so as to avoid damaging the substrate.

Abstract: A deposition system is provided, where conductive targets of similar composition are situated opposing each other. The system is aligned parallel with a substrate, which is located outside the resulting plasma that is largely confined between the two cathodes. A “plasma cage” is formed wherein the carbon atoms collide with accelerating electrons and get highly ionized. The electrons are trapped inside the plasma cage, while the ionized carbon atoms are deposited on the surface of the substrate. Since the electrons are confined to the plasma cage, no substrate damage or heating occurs. Additionally, argon atoms, which are used to ignite and sustain the plasma and to sputter carbon atoms from the target, do not reach the substrate, so as to avoid damaging the substrate.

Abstract: Protective overlayers for magnetic recording media are described. The overlayers, composed of a transition metal-silicon or transition metal-germanium interlayer and a carbon overcoat, provide good wear resistance and corrosion resistance at thicknesses of less than 100 Å.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium having a dual underlayer structure is described. The underlayer structure is composed of a first underlayer of chromium and a second underlayer of a chromium alloy.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium having a barrier layer deposited directly on the magnetic recording layer is described. The barrier layer is deposited by sputter deposition under a nitrogen-containing sputtering atmosphere to form a nitrogen-containing chromium or chromium alloy barrier layer. The barrier layer is effective to inhibit migration of cobalt from the underlying magnetic recording layer, reducing corrosion of the medium and improving magnetic recording performance.

Abstract: An improvement in a magnetic recording medium having an underlayer and first and second magnetic recording layers is described. The improvement, effective to reduce media noise, includes deposition of an interlayer between the first and second magnetic recording layers. The interlayer is deposited to a thickness of between 5-50 .ANG. and is composed of an CoCr-based alloy having a defined saturation magnetization.

Abstract: An improvement in a magnetic recording medium having an underlayer and a magnetic layer is described. The improvement, effective to increase the coercivity of the medium, includes deposition of an interlayer between the underlayer and the magnetic recording layer. The interlayer is deposited to a thickness of between 10-60 .ANG. and is composed of an CoCr-based alloy having a defined saturation magnetization.

Abstract: An improvement in a magnetic recording medium having an underlayer and a magnetic recording layer is described. The improvement, effective to reduce media anisotropy, includes deposition of a prelayer on the substrate, prior to deposition of the underlayer. The prelayer is deposited to a thickness of between 10-60 .ANG. and is composed of an CoCr-based alloy having a defined saturation magnetization.

Abstract: A texturing device for texturing a disc substrate of the type used in forming a thin-film medium is described. The device includes a rotatable assembly having a first pad attached to one end of a spindle and an annular ring having a second pad attached on one surface. Each pad defines a texturing surface for texturing the inner and outer regions of the disc substrate.

Abstract: A target assembly for use in forming a protective overcoat in a magnetic recording medium is described. The assembly includes a centrally positioned target with inner and outer magnetic means adjacent the target. A sputtering shield is positioned between the target and the medium for controlling the amount and angle of material deposition on the medium. The assembly is effective to deposit an overcoat having a greater thickness in the inner landing zone of the medium than in the outer data zone. A method of using the assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for forming an overcoat having first and second layers in a magnetic recording medium is described. The first overcoat layer is deposited in a first sputtering chamber where the magnetic means for confining target plasma in the chamber are oriented to retain magnetic-field confinement about the target surface and to produce magnetic field lines between directly confronting portions of the confronting sputtering targets. The second overcoat layer is deposited under a nitrogen-containing atmosphere.

Abstract: A sputtering assembly for use in forming sputter deposited layers on a substrate is described. The assembly includes a pair of confronting sputtering targets for depositing sputtered layers onto the substrate and a movably mounted heating means for heating the substrate. A method of using the assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: A cathode assembly having a magnetic-field shunt for use in a magnetron sputtering apparatus is described. The magnetic-field shunt disposed between a sputtering target and a source of magnetic flux, and the shunt is moveable between first and second positions to effect preferential target erosion at first and second target regions, respectively. A method of using the assembly for preparation of a magnetic recording medium is also described.

Abstract: An improvement in a magnetic recording disc having a protective overcoat is described. The overcoat extends between an inner-diameter landing zone and a data zone and has a thickness in the landing zone of at least 135 .ANG. and a thickness in the data zone of less than 90 .ANG..

Abstract: A target assembly for use in fabricating magnetic recording media is described. The target assembly has inner and outer concentric targets for sputter depositing on a substrate first and second layers having different compositions. Disposed adjacent each target is a magnetic means, and at least one which is reversible in magnetic-pole polarity. One polarity produces a magnetic flux sufficient to ignite a sputtering plasma in the inner target only, when power is supplied to the inner target at a preselected level. The opposite polarity produces a magnetic flux sufficient to ignite a sputtering plasma in the outer target only, when power is supplied to the outer target at a preselected level.

Abstract: A magnetic storage medium is composed of a non-wettable substrate upon which a transient liquid metal layer is deposited and maintained as a distribution of discontinuous liquid features. An intermediate metal layer is subsequently deposited in-situ in an atmosphere comprising oxygen and at least one inert gas. A magnetic layer is then deposited on the intermediate metal layer. The surface topology and magnetic characteristics of the medium are controlled by adjusting the thickness of the TLM layer and the conditions under which the TLM layer, intermediate metal layer, and magnetic layer are deposited.

Abstract: Etching processes are disclosed for producing a graded or stepped edge profile in a contact pad formed between a chip passivating layer and a solder bump. The stepped edge profile reduces edge stress that tends to cause cracking in the underlying passivating layer. The pad comprises a bottom layer of chromium, a top layer of copper and an intermediate layer of phased chromium-copper. An intermetallic layer of CuSn forms if and when the solder is reflowed, in accordance with certain disclosed variations of the process. In all the variations, the solder is used as an etching mask in combination with several different etching techniques including electroetching, wet etching, anisotropic dry etching and ion beam etching.

Abstract: A magnetic head slider having a protective coating on the rails thereof, the protective coating comprising a thin adhesion layer and a thin layer of amorphous hydrogenated carbon. The protective coating is deposited on the air bearing surface of the slider after the thin film magnetic heads are lapped to a chosen dimension, but before the pattern of rails is produced on the air bearing surface. The protective coating protects the magnetic head during the rail fabrication process and in usage in a magnetic recording system protects the magnetic head from wear and corrosion damage.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic head, having a predetermined cut-off frequency is constructed of alternating first and second layers, the first layers include a magnetic material and the second layers include a resistive material. The resistivity of the second layers is chosen so that the head's cut-off frequency exceeds the head's required frequency response. The resistivity of the second layers is chosen to be considerably less than any level of resistivity which falls within the insulation regime.

Abstract: A magnetic storage medium is composed of a non-wettable substrate upon which a transient liquid metal layer is deposited and maintained as a distribution of discontinuous liquid features. A magnetic film layer is deposited on the transient liquid metal layer resulting in a reaction of the liquid metal with the magnetic film. The topology of the magnetic film is controllable by adjusting the thickness of the transient liquid metal layer.