Abstract: In one general embodiment, a perpendicular magnetic recording medium includes a ferromagnetic granular layer with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and having a granular structure; and a cap layer above said granular layer, the cap layer being a ferromagnetic continuous layer with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, wherein, near a first side of said granular layer nearest the cap layer. Surfaces of the ferromagnetic grains of said granular layer facing the cap layer each have a domed shape defining undulations along the first side. Indentations in said ferromagnetic grains are filled by the oxide of the grain boundary in a vicinity of the first side of said granular layer. Undulations on a granular layer side of said cap layer are flatter than the undulations of the ferromagnetic grains on the first side of said granular layer.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording medium that is excellent in terms of electromagnetic conversion characteristics and can achieve the demand for the recording density growth, and a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus provided with the perpendicular magnetic recording medium are provided. The perpendicular magnetic recording medium has at least a backing layer, an underlayer, an intermediate layer, and a perpendicular magnetic recording layer sequentially laminated on a non-magnetic substrate, in which the backing layer includes at least a soft magnetic film having an amorphous structure; the underlayer includes a first underlayer and a second underlayer laminated from the non-magnetic substrate side; the first underlayer is an fcc-structured alloy layer including an fcc-structured element and a bcc-structured element, the second underlayer includes a NiW alloy; and the intermediate layer includes Ru or a Ru alloy.

Abstract: It is an object to manufacture magnetic recording media with the high recording density. Since nonmagnetic portions (8) with a predetermined pattern are formed in a recording auxiliary layer (4) formed on a magnetic recording layer (3), it is possible to actualize a magnetic recording medium where magnetic portions (7) and the magnetic recording layer (3) immediately below the portions (7) are recording units. The nonmagnetic portions (8) are formed by non-magnetization using ion implantation, and it is thereby possible to manufacture magnetic recording media with the high recording density.

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention relates to glass for a magnetic recording medium substrate, which comprises, denoted as molar percentages, 50 to 75 percent of SiO2, 0 to 5 percent of Al2O3, 0 to 3 percent of Li2O, 0 to 5 percent of ZnO, a total of Na2O and K2O of 3 to 15 percent, a total of MgO, CaO, SrO, and BaO of 14 to 35 percent, a total of ZrO2, TiO2, La2O3, Y2O3, Yb2O3, Ta2O5, Nb2O5, and HfO2 of 2 to 9 percent, with a molar ratio of {(MgO+CaO)/(MgO+CaO+SrO+BaO)} falling within a range of 0.85 to 1, and a molar ratio of {Al2O3/(MgO+CaO)} falling within a range of 0 to 0.30.

Abstract: The invention is a patterned-media disks for multi-track recording that are fabricated by nanoimprinting from a master template and that have data islands arranged in a pattern to compensate for head skew. The islands are arranged along lines canted relative to a disk radial line by an acute angle, as required for multi-track recording. However, this angle is not the same for all bands, but varies from band to band to compensate for head skew. The angle the lines in a band are canted is reduced by the amount of head skew. There are a plurality of bands between the disk inside-diameter (ID) and mid-diameter (MD) where the angle is in one direction from a radial line and a plurality of bands between the disk MD and outside-diameter (OD) where the angle is in the opposite direction from a radial line.

Abstract: The present invention is a computer component enclosure that includes a cube-shaped enclosed casing, a front control panel that is disposed underneath the enclosed casing, a USB power digital panel that is disposed on the front control panel and a hard drive platter that resides in the computer component enclosure. The platter reader and writer that moves above the hard drive platter, a plurality of platter holders that holds the hard drive platter that is read and written by the platter reader and writer, a power cord that provides electrical power to the computer component enclosure and downloadable recovery software that can be downloaded to the computer component enclosure to provide quick and easy access to a progress of a recovery after recovering and realigning data from the computer component enclosure.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for forming a high quality master pattern for patterned media, including features to support servo patterns, is disclosed. Block copolymer self-assembly is used to facilitate the formation of a track pattern with narrower tracks. E-beam lithography forms a chemical contrast pattern of concentric rings, where the spacing of the rings is equal to an integral multiple of the target track pitch. The rings include regions within each servo sector header where the rings are offset radially by a fraction of a track pitch. Self-assembly is performed to form a new ring pattern at the target track pitch on top of the chemical contrast pattern, including the radial offsets in the servo sector headers. When this pattern is transferred to disks via nanoimprinting and etching, it creates tracks separated by nonmagnetic grooves, with the grooves and tracks including the radial offset regions.

Abstract: A defect inspection is performed for each of glass substrates by a surface defect detector. The distance from the center of the glass substrate to a detected defect, as a radius of a nonmagnetic region to be formed circular, is recorded along with an ID assigned to the glass substrate. Such defect information is recorded in a defect list using a printer or recorded in an RFID tag using an RFID writer. The defect list or the RFID tag is attached to a glass-substrate case. Each glass substrate and its defect information are in one-to-one correspondence and are provided to a customer as a magnetic disk manufacturer. Based on the obtained defect information, the customer manufactures magnetic disks each being a discrete track recording medium having the nonmagnetic region formed at the position where the defect is present.

Abstract: Disclosed is a technique of providing a perpendicular magnetic recording medium in which high-quality servo information enabling high-density recording of 500 kTPI or more is recorded, and a magnetic storage device of an adaptive track formatting type having large capacity, high reliability and high performance with high device manufacturing yield. At a servo area of the perpendicular magnetic recording medium, a servo sequence such as a burst pattern for positioning in a servo track is recorded in a seamless manner without big recording footprint (several times longer than the servo bit) and in a magnetization pattern such that a total amount of the recording magnetization is substantially zero.

Abstract: To provide glass for a data storage medium substrate, whereby high heat resistance can be obtained. Glass for a data storage medium substrate, which comprises, as represented by mol percentage based on the following oxides, from 55 to 70% of SiO2, from 2.5 to 9% of Al2O3, from 0 to 10% of MgO, from 0 to 7% of CaO, from 0.5 to 10% of SrO, from 0 to 12.5% of BaO, from 0 to 2.5% of TiO2, from 0.5 to 3.7% of ZrO2, from 0 to 2.5% of Li2O, from 0 to 8% of Na2O, from 2 to 8% of K2O and from 0.5 to 5% of La2O3, provided that the total content of Al2O3 and ZrO2 (Al2O3+ZrO2) is at most 12%, and the total content of Li2O, Na2O and K2O (R2O) is at most 12%.

Abstract: A recording media design having discrete track recording structure where the trenches between tracks are filled with a soft magnetic material is provided. The soft magnetic material provides a low magnetic impedance path to the soft underlayer such that fringe fields from the write head are conducted to the soft underlayer without having a negative effect such as adjacent track erasure. A method of manufacturing the media includes a nano-imprint step and ion milling out the data layer to create the trenches. A B2O3 material allows the data layer to be ion milled out without redeposition bridging the B2O3 layer thus preventing lift off of the mask. The trenches are then filled by ion deposition with the layers of ferromagnetic material separated by an anti-ferromagnetic coupling that causes the flux to be conducted to the soft underlayer and remnant flux to rotate within the island and not into adjacent tracks.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium according to one embodiment includes at least a ground layer above a non-magnetic substrate; a magnetic recording layer above the ground layer; and an overcoat above the magnetic recording layer, the overcoat characterized in that said overcoat is an amorphous carbon film having a ratio of sp3 bonding with respect to sp2 bonding (sp3/(sp2+sp3)) of at least 0.5, and hydrogen content in the overcoat in a center layer thereof in a film thickness direction of said overcoat is from 0.1 atom % to 0.6 atom %. Additional products and methods are also presented.

Abstract: A patterned magnetic media having offset servo and data regions. The media can be constructed by a method that allows both a data region and a servo region to be patterned without the patterning of one region adversely affecting the patterning of the other region. The method results in a patterned data region a patterned servo region and intermediate regions between the servo and data regions. The intermediate regions, which are most likely, but not necessarily, asymmetrical with one another indicate that the method has been used to pattern the media.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a perpendicular pole head for creating a perpendicular magnetic moment in a concentrated pattern for writing the pattern on perpendicular magnetic media, such as BaFe based media. The pole head can have flux concentrators in the shape of the written pattern, which can be repeatedly applied to a moving magnetic medium to create a timing pattern on the media, e.g., a servo timing pattern.

Abstract: This invention provides a magnetic disk which can satisfactorily suppress the elution of internal components from an end face of a magnetic disk, and corrosion damage. The magnetic disk comprises a disk substrate, and a thin film including a magnetic layer, a carbon-based protective layer, and a lubricating layer provided in that order on the disk substrate. The main surface and the end face of the magnetic disk are covered with the carbonaceous protective layer. The carbon-based protective layer contains nitrogen at a part adjacent to the lubricating layer. The content of nitrogen atoms relative to the content of carbon atoms in the protective layer formed on the end face is equal to or more than the content of nitrogen atoms relative to the content of carbon atoms in the protective layer formed on the main surface.

Abstract: A stamper according to an embodiment includes a guide including: a first portion provided in regions to be boundaries between the servo region and the data regions in the bit-patterned medium, the first portion extending in a radial direction; and a second portion connected to the first portion, the second portion having protrusions regularly arranged at predetermined intervals in the radial direction, each of the protrusion having and being located on sides of regions to be the data regions, wherein, of angles formed between at least one of two sides of the triangular shape and a straight line extending in the radial direction, the smaller angle is in the range of 10 to 50 degrees, the two sides extending from a vertex of one of the protrusions.

Abstract: A shallow trench discrete track media structure is fabricated by etching a magnetic recording layer to provide a plurality of discrete magnetic data tracks separated by shallow trenches. Each shallow trench has a trench floor formed at a depth in the magnetic recording layer that is less than the thickness of the magnetic recording layer. Exposed regions of the magnetic recording layer beneath the trench floor are reacted with reactive plasma to diminish the magnetic moment of the exposed regions.

Abstract: The invention relates to bit patterned recording media having a stop layer for chemical mechanical polishing. One embodiment of the present invention is a method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium comprising the step of planarizing by chemical mechanical polishing until the stop layer is reached. The present invention also provides a magnetic recording medium having a stop layer.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a perpendicular magnetic recording medium characterized by includes: a substrate; an undercoat layer formed on the substrate and made of a soft magnetic material; a recording layer formed on the undercoat layer and having an easy axis of magnetization in a direction that is approximately perpendicular to a surface of the perpendicular magnetic recording medium; and a protective layer which is formed on the recording layer and in which soft magnetic particles are mixed.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium for a hard disk drive, including a thermal conduction layer made of materials having different thermal conductivities formed on a recording layer having data recording regions and including magnetic particles that are heated and cooled for magnetic recording, is provided based on a thermally assisted magnetic recording technique. First thin films made of a material high in thermal conductivity are formed on portions of the thermal conduction layer, said portions located in association with portions of the data recording regions. Second thin films made of a material lower in thermal conductivity than the first thin films are formed between respective pairs of the first thin films within the thermal conduction layer. The magnetic recording medium ensures the thermal stability of the magnetic particles heated for the magnetic recording, and the thermal stability of magnetic particles located near the heated magnetic particles, thereby suppressing disappearance of data.

Abstract: A sliding member comprising a slidable substrate and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer provided on one side thereof, wherein the slidable substrate is a porous form comprising a plastic, and a barrier layer is provided between the slidable substrate and the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer. The sliding member has good sliding property and even when a load is applied thereto over a long period of time, can suppress exudation of the pressure-sensitive adhesive.

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: Embodiments of the present invention provide a servo write medium, method and device for writing servo information by self servo write on the servo region formed from a flat section of the discrete track medium. The recording or write device yields the same servo characteristics as magnetic servo writing, is superior to pre-patterned servo, and delivers a greater write storage capacity with an even higher recording density. According to one embodiment, a self servo write method is used to write servo information on a flat section formed on a patterned disk on which discrete tracks are formed. Timing detection patterns (grooves) required for controlling the timing along the periphery during self servo write are formed by pre-patterning on the disk, and RRO error signals used for positioning control along the radius are written in the servo information on a flat section of the disk.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides an apparatus that includes: a storage media including a patterned structure, the patterned structure including a first groove, a first stopper in the first groove, wherein the first stopper is configured to interrupt the flow of gas in a section within the first groove.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium suppresses an anticipated decline in performance due to heating of the lubricant layer and protective layer in thermally assisted recording, and has superior durability and reliability. The magnetic recording medium comprises a layer stack comprising, in order on a nonmagnetic substrate, at least a magnetic recording layer, adiabatic layer, carbon-based protective layer, and lubricant layer.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a patterned magnetic media. The method allows both a data region and a servo region to be patterned without the patterning of one region adversely affecting the patterning of the other region. The method results in a patterned data region a patterned servo region and intermediate regions between the servo and data regions. The intermediate regions, which are most likely, but not necessarily, asymmetrical with one another indicate that the method has been used to pattern the media.

Abstract: A perpendicular recording medium with enhanced magnetic stability. In accordance with some embodiments, a multi-layer recording structure is formed on a base substrate and adapted to magnetically store a magnetic bit sequence in domains substantially perpendicular to said layers. A thin magnetic stabilization layer is formed on the multi-layer recording substrate to magnetically stabilize an upper portion of the recording structure.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a patterned magnetic storage medium is disclosed herein. The magnetic storage medium includes a magnetic domain, a substantially non-magnetic region laterally adjacent to the magnetic domain, and an exchange spring structure disposed between the magnetic domain and the laterally adjacent non-magnetic region wherein the exchange spring structure comprises implanted ions.

Abstract: A hard drive platter comprises a substrate that includes glassy metal. At least one magnetic layer is arranged on the substrate. The glassy metal includes at least three of zirconium, titanium, nickel, copper, and/or beryllium. A perpendicular recording system comprises the hard drive platter. A hard disk drive comprises the hard drive platter. A computer comprises the hard disk drive. A digital camera comprises the hard drive platter. A portable media player comprises the hard drive platter. An insulating layer and/or an Aluminum layer may be located between the glassy metal substrate and the at least one magnetic layer.

Abstract: A recording media design having discrete track recording structure where the trenches between tracks are filled with a soft magnetic material is provided. The soft magnetic material provides a low magnetic impedance path to the soft underlayer such that fringe fields from the write head are conducted to the soft underlayer without having a negative effect such as adjacent track erasure. A method of manufacturing the media includes a nano-imprint step and ion milling out the data layer to create the trenches. A B2O3 material allows the data layer to be ion milled out without redeposition bridging the B2O3 layer thus preventing lift off of the mask. The trenches are then filled by ion deposition with the layers of ferromagnetic material separated by an anti-ferromagnetic coupling that causes the flux to be conducted to the soft underlayer and remnant flux to rotate within the island and not into adjacent tracks.

Abstract: The invention is a patterned-media disks for multi-track recording that are fabricated by nanoimprinting from a master template and that have data islands arranged in a pattern to compensate for head skew. The islands are arranged along lines canted relative to a disk radial line by an acute angle, as required for multi-track recording. However, this angle is not the same for all bands, but varies from band to band to compensate for head skew. The angle the lines in a band are canted is reduced by the amount of head skew. There are a plurality of bands between the disk inside-diameter (ID) and mid-diameter (MD) where the angle is in one direction from a radial line and a plurality of bands between the disk MD and outside-diameter (OD) where the angle is in the opposite direction from a radial line.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a recording medium having a servo layer configured to provide servo information and a data recording layer configured to record data, wherein the medium comprises a plurality of servo patterns and a plurality of data segment in one sector, each data segment corresponding to each of the plurality of servo patterns, wherein the plurality of servo patterns comprises a first servo pattern comprising an automatic gain control, a second servo pattern comprising a sector address mark, a third servo pattern comprising a GrayCode, and a fourth servo pattern comprising a plurality of servo bursts, wherein the data recording layer is configured to record the data on the data segments corresponding to the first, second, third and fourth servo patterns.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a perpendicular magnetic recording medium that reduces the noise of granular recording layers, obtains sufficient overwrite characteristic that suppresses an increase in the magnetic cluster size, and allows high-density recording. According to one embodiment, a perpendicular magnetic recording medium comprising substrate having thereon at least soft magnetic layer, nonmagnetic intermediate layer, a perpendicular recording layer and protective layer formed in that order. The perpendicular recording layer consists of three or more layers of first recording layer, a second recording layer, and a third recording layer from the side nearer to the substrate. The first recording layer and the second recording layer have a granular structure comprising a grain boundary of an oxide surrounding ferromagnetic crystal grains containing Co and Pt, and the third recording layer has a non-granular structure mainly comprising Co and not containing an oxide.

Abstract: Methods of defining servo patterns and data patterns for forming patterned magnetic media are described. For one method, a lithographic process is performed to define a servo pattern in servo regions on a substrate. The lithographic process also defines a first data pattern in data regions of the substrate. The first data pattern is then transferred to (i.e., etched into) the data regions. Self-assembly structures are then formed on the data pattern in the data regions to define a second data pattern. The servo pattern is then transferred to the servo regions and the second data pattern is transferred to the data regions. Thus, the servo pattern is defined through lithographic processes while the data pattern is defined by a combination of lithographic processes and self-assembly.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium comprises forming a protective film on a ferromagnetic recording layer containing Cobalt (Co) on a substrate and forming a recess in both the protective film and the ferromagnetic recording layer at a part where a nonmagnetic layer is to be formed. The method further comprises removing Co from a part of the recess of the ferromagnetic recording layer to form the nonmagnetic layer that separates magnetic patterns made of the ferromagnetic recording layer containing Co. The nonmagnetic layer has an identical chemical composition as the ferromagnetic recording layer, except for the nonmagnetic layer having a lower Co concentration than the magnetic patterns.

Abstract: A magnetic storage medium is formed of magnetic nanoparticles that are encapsulated within nanotubes (e.g., carbon nanotubes).

Abstract: The invention relates to bit patterned recording media having a stop layer for chemical mechanical polishing. One embodiment of the present invention is a method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium comprising the step of planarizing by chemical mechanical polishing until the stop layer is reached. The present invention also provides a magnetic recording medium having a stop layer.

Abstract: A shallow trench discrete track media structure is fabricated by etching a magnetic recording layer to provide a plurality of discrete magnetic data tracks separated by shallow trenches. Each shallow trench has a trench floor formed at a depth in the magnetic recording layer that is less than the thickness of the magnetic recording layer. Exposed regions of the magnetic recording layer beneath the trench floor are reacted with reactive plasma to diminish the magnetic moment of the exposed regions.

Abstract: A magnetic data storage system having a magnetic disk having burst patterns for providing a position error signal (PES) wherein each magnetic burst pattern is offset from an adjacent burst pattern by ¼ track pitch. All of the magnetic bits of the burst patterns can be unipolar magnetized, and the bits of each burst pattern can be aligned with one another in radial and circumferential direction. The magnetic media can be a bit patterned media wherein the magnetic bits of the burst patterns are magnetically isolated portions separated by non-magnetic spaces or non-magnetic material.

Abstract: An apparatus for sensing magnetic domains in a patterned media that includes a first sensing element and a second sensing element in electrical communication with the first sensing element. The first sensing element has an output voltage lead and the second sensing element has an output voltage lead. The patterned media may be a bit patterned media or a track patterned media.

Abstract: A magnetic disk according to an embodiment includes: a plurality of data regions each including a plurality of tracks, each of the tracks being arranged to extend in a circumferential direction; a servo region provided between the data regions, the servo region extending in a radial direction, the servo region including: a plurality of guide patterns each extending in the radial direction; and at least one line of dots arranged by post patterns in the radial direction at least on a side of one of adjacent guide patterns, the post patterns being arranged in the radial direction between the adjacent guide patterns.

Abstract: To provide a process to improve acid resistance of a glass substrate for an information recording medium. A process for producing a glass substrate for an information recording medium, comprising processing a glass formed into a plate by a float process, a down-draw method or a press method, wherein, in cooling of the glass in the last step where the glass has a temperature of at least its strain point, the time during which the glass temperature is at least its strain point and at most a temperature where the glass viscosity is 1010 dPa·s is at least 13 minutes.

Abstract: A planarization process may planarize a media disk that has data trenches between data features and larger servo trenches between servo features. A filler material layer is deposited on the media disk and provides step coverage of the trenches. The filler material has data recesses over the data trenches and servo recesses over the servo trenches that must be removed to produce a planar media surface. A first planarization process is used to remove the data recesses and a second planarization process is used to remove the servo recesses.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a magnetic recording medium (100). The invention finds a particularly interesting application in the field of data stored on hard disks. The medium (100) comprises an assembly of magnetic zones disposed on a substrate (102), each magnetic zone comprising at least one first (C?1) and one second (C?2) stacked magnetic layers separated from each other by a non-magnetic layer (NM?). In addition, said first magnetic layer (C?1) presents magnetization substantially oriented parallel to the plane of said substrate (102) and said second magnetic layer (C?2) presents magnetization substantially oriented perpendicular to the plane of said substrate (102).

Abstract: There is provided a glass substrate which has the properties required in the use as a substrate for an information recording medium of the next generation such as a perpendicular magnetic recording system, and can be applied as a substrate for an information recording medium of the next generation particularly on the premise of using the glass substrate in a dynamic environment. More particularly, there is provided a glass substrate for an information recording medium which has sufficiently high surface hardness, has a good balance between specific gravity and mechanical strength, and has high strength to withstand high speed rotation or drop impact, and which can be produced with a high productivity adequate for a direct press method, without the occurrence of bubbles in the glass blank or reboil upon pressing even if arsenic components or antimony components are not substantially used.

Abstract: A method for producing a magnetic recording medium having a magnetically partitioned magnetic recording pattern on a surface of a nonmagnetic substrate, which comprises the following steps. Step (A) of forming a magnetic layer on a non-magnetic substrate, step (B) of forming a carbon layer on the magnetic layer, step (C) of forming a resist layer on the carbon layer, step (D) of forming a negative pattern of magnetic recording pattern on the resist layer, step (E) of removing the portions of resist layer and carbon layer in regions corresponding to the negative pattern, step (F) of removing at least a surface layer portion of the magnetic layer in the regions corresponding to the negative pattern, and optional step (G) of removing the residual resist layer and carbon layer. The produced magnetic recording medium has a recording/reproducing property equal to or better than conventional ones and exhibits a high recording density.

Abstract: In an information recording area of a disc-shaped magnetic recording medium, recording columns adjacent to each other relative to a radial direction are formed so as to partially overlap with each other in the radial direction. Each recording column has an overlapping portion which partially overlaps with either of the adjacent recording columns in the radial direction, and a non-overlapping portion which does not overlap with any of the recording columns in the radial direction.

Abstract: In information recording areas of a disc-shaped magnetic recording medium, recording columns adjacent to each other relative to a radial direction are formed to partially overlap with each other in the radial direction. A first recording and a second recording are selectively performed. In the first recording, a first recording column, a second recording column (the outer adjacent recording column of the first recording column) and a third recording column (the outer adjacent recording column of the second recording column) are formed so that the radial positions of the inner and outer circumferential edges of the first recording column, those of a second recording column, and those of a third recording column satisfy R1in<R2in<R3in<R1out<R2out<R3out. In the second recording, a non-overlapping portion which does not overlap with any of the recording columns in the radial direction is formed on each of the recording columns.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a perpendicular magnetic recording medium includes at least one soft magnetic underlayer above a substrate, a seed layer above the at least one soft magnetic underlayer, an intermediate layer above the seed layer, a magnetic recording layer above the intermediate layer, and an overcoat layer above the magnetic recording layer, wherein the seed layer includes a second seed layer above a first seed layer. In another embodiment, the seed layer is a multilayered structure of at least two cycles of a unit of layered film which includes a first seed layer and a second seed layer. The first seed layer includes a non-magnetic alloy having a Face-Centered-Cubic (FCC) structure, and the second seed layer includes a soft magnetic alloy having a FCC structure. Other structures are also disclosed, according to more embodiments.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes spiral writing a DC pattern onto a magnetic disk medium using a writer of a magnetic head while moving the magnetic head in a direction about parallel to a radial direction of the magnetic disk medium while rotating the magnetic disk medium, reading the magnetic disk medium while moving the magnetic head in the direction about parallel to the radial direction of the magnetic disk medium while rotating the magnetic disk medium, and calculating a track pitch interval between data tracks of the magnetic disk medium based on the reading of the magnetic disk medium. In another embodiment, a magnetic disk medium includes a DC spiral pattern in a radial region further outward and/or a radial region further inward than a radial region where data is recorded.