Abstract: A magnetic recording system is disclosed in which the magnetization dynamics of the write head and recording medium are highly damped. The system may comprise a perpendicular recording head having a write pole, and a recording medium including a hard magnetic recording layer and a soft magnetic underlayer (SUL). The increased magnetic damping in the write pole and SUL suppresses precessional motion of the respective magnetizations, leading to a reduction in transition jitter caused by spurious head field fluctuations. The damping may be increased by providing films or multilayer structures that are doped with rare earth or transition metal elements. Exchange coupled laminates of doped and undoped layers may optimize both the effective damping and write field in the recording system.

Abstract: A recording head for use with magnetic recording media has an improved structure, made by a simplified manufacturing process. The electrically insulating materials within the recording head are inorganic. The insulating materials are vacuum deposited, with no need to use a hard bake process that would be required for use of organic insulators. In one embodiment, the write gap is first masked, and then the coil is deposited on the write gap. A slightly larger area is then exposed within the mask, permitting insulation to be deposited over the coil. In a second embodiment, the coil and associated insulation are deposited and then milled to have a tapered configuration. This recording head also places the writing pole on a very flat surface, thereby allowing plated or deposited films to be easily manufactured to correspond to narrow track widths.

Abstract: A ferromagnetic shield material having a minimized anisotropic magneto-resistance effect permits the use of a combined shield/electrical lead for magneto-resistive read elements. The shields/electrical leads may therefore be placed closer together, maximizing the recording density that may be read by a magnetic recording head using a read element having such shields/leads.

Abstract: A write head comprises a yoke including a top pole and a bottom pole, the top pole including a layer of insulating material, a layer of a first magnetic material positioned on a surface of the layer of insulating material, the first magnetic material having a first end positioned adjacent to an air bearing surface of the write pole, and a layer of a second magnetic material positioned on the surface of the layer of insulating material, the second magnetic material having a lower magnetic moment than the first magnetic material and being positioned to conduct magnetic flux between the return pole and the layer of first magnetic material. The method of constructing the write head and a disc drive including the write head are also included.

Abstract: A magnetic material structure is provided according to the present invention that is capable of being lithographically patterned for various uses, such as, but not limited to, magnetic read/write devices. The magnetic material structure includes a layer of magnetic material provided on a wafer or other substrate, a layer of non-magnetic material provided on top of the layer of magnetic material, and a layer of soft magnetic material provided on top of the layer of non-magnetic material. The magnetic material which is to be patterned will have a magnetic field component normal to a plane of the layer of magnetic material. To minimize the effect this normal magnetic field component will have on electrons as they impinge the structure surface during e-beam lithography, the soft magnetic material has a high-plane permeability sufficient to divert the normal magnetic field component of the magnetic material into a plane of the layer of soft magnetic material.

Abstract: A magnetic structure including a first layer of hard magnetic material which has a magnetization that is substantially fixed in a first magnetization direction, a second layer of ferromagnetic material which has a magnetization that it is substantially rotatable, a nonmagnetic layer provided between the first hard magnetic and second ferromagnetic layers, and a hard magnetic material element which has a magnetization that is substantially fixed in a second magnetization direction. The hard magnetic material element is magnetically coupled to the second ferromagnetic layer and biases the second ferromagnetic layer such that its magnetization is biased to lie in the second magnetization direction. Either the first hard magnetic layer or the hard magnetic material element includes an FePtCu alloy. In one form, the FePtCu alloy includes the alloy (FePt)100-xCux and, in a further form, the variable x is equal to five.

Abstract: A recording head for use with magnetic recording media has an improved structure, made by a simplified manufacturing process. The electrically insulating materials within the recording head are inorganic. The insulating materials are vacuum deposited, with no need to use a hard bake process that would be required for use of organic insulators. In one embodiment, the write gap is first masked, and then the coil is deposited on the write gap. A slightly larger area is then exposed within the mask, permitting insulation to be deposited over the coil. In a second embodiment, the coil and associated insulation are deposited and then milled to have a tapered configuration. This recording head also places the writing pole on a very flat surface, thereby allowing plated or deposited films to be easily manufactured to correspond to narrow track widths.

Abstract: A method of etching a structure including a magnetic material, the method includes providing a structure including a magnetic material, applying a mask material to at least a portion of the structure, and reactive ion beam etching the magnetic material using an etch process including a carbon based compound, wherein the mask material forms a material which etches slower than the magnetic material. The etch process can further include argon ions. The carbon based compound can be a compound selected from the group of C2H2, CHF3, and CO2. The etch process can alternatively include argon ions, oxygen and either C2H2 or CHF3. The magnetic material can comprise a compound including a material selected from the group of Fe, Ni, and Co. The mask material can comprise a layer of Ta, W, Mo, Si, Ti or a photoresist. Magnetic heads made using the process, and disc drives including such magnetic heads are also included.

Abstract: A write head comprises a yoke including a top pole and a bottom pole, the top pole including a layer of insulating material, a layer of a first magnetic material positioned on a surface of the layer of insulating material, the first magnetic material having a first end positioned adjacent to an air bearing surface of the write pole, and a layer of a second magnetic material positioned on the surface of the layer of insulating material, the second magnetic material having a lower magnetic moment than the first magnetic material and being positioned to conduct magnetic flux between the return pole and the layer of first magnetic material. The method of constructing the write head and a disc drive including the write head are also included.

Abstract: A process for producing an iron cobalt alloy exhibiting magnetic anisotropy is disclosed. The alloy also exhibits a high magnetic moment, low coercivity and has uniaxial properties, making it suitable for use as the top pole of a magnetic recording head. The change in magnetic properties is brought about through the application of a high bias voltage during the deposition process.