Abstract: A representative method for manufacturing a highly-laminated magnetic inductor core includes: depositing at least a first layer of a ferromagnetic material; depositing at least a first layer of a sacrificial conductive material; depositing a support structure formed of a ferromagnetic material; and removing the sacrificial conductive material, thereby leaving the at least first layer of ferromagnetic material mechanically supported by the support structure.

Abstract: A method of producing a magnetic recording medium includes forming a underlayer on a base, and successively forming, on the underlayer, a first magnetic layer, a nonmagnetic coupling layer and a second magnetic layer. The first and second magnetic layers are exchange-coupled via the nonmagnetic coupling layer and have antiparallel magnetizations in a state where no external magnetic field is applied on the magnetic recording medium. The underlayer is made of Cr or a Cr alloy having a bcc crystal structure within an atmosphere including nitrogen gas.

Abstract: A method for producing a disk-shaped substrate 10 used for producing an optical disk includes: (a) forming a protective layer 12a that is larger in area than the disk-shaped substrate 10 on a surface of a transparent plate 11a; and (b) cutting a portion of the plate 11a with the protective layer 12a formed thereon other than an outer edge portion of the protective layer 12a to form a disk shape. According to this producing method, a thin substrate can be prevented from being damaged by forming a protective layer. Furthermore, according to this producing method, a protective layer with a uniform thickness can be formed.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing electric machines comprised of geometrically patterned arrays of permanent magnets, soft magnetic materials, and electrical conductors deposited by kinetic spraying methods directly atop a carrier. The magnets and planar coils of the present invention may be integrally formed atop carriers to form electrical machines such as motors, generators, alternators, solenoids, and actuators. The manufacturing techniques used in this invention may produce highly defined articles that do not require additional shaping or attaching steps. Very high-purity permanent and soft magnetic materials, and conductors with low oxidation are produced.

Abstract: A method for forming high aspect ratio metallization on a wafer is implemented in the formation of a disc drive recording head. The process involves patterning photoresist where metal is to be later deposited, milling around the photoresist perimeter, depositing insulating material in the milled region, around and over the photoresist, then dissolving the photoresist to be replaced with metal. The process features the ability to desirably increase the aspect ratio of height to width of a metallization on a wafer. An improved aspect ratio can be utilized to improve the quality of a write pole in a recording head, effectively increasing its achievable recording density.

Abstract: In one illustrative example, a method of making a read sensor of a magnetic head involves forming a barrier structure which surrounds a central mask formed over a plurality of read sensor layers; etching the read sensor layers to form the read sensor below the mask; and depositing, with use of the mask and the barrier structure, hard bias and lead layers to form around the read sensor. The barrier structure may be formed by, for example, depositing one or more barrier structure layers over the read sensor layers and performing a photolithography process. The barrier structure physically blocks materials being deposited at relatively low angles (e.g. angles at or below 71 degrees) so as to reduce their formation far underneath the mask (e.g. when using a bridged mask), which could otherwise form an electrical short, and/or to improve the symmetry of the deposited materials around the read sensor.

Abstract: Laminated magnetic recording medium with two Co-containing layers separated by a non-magnetic Ru-containing interlayer is stabilized by Ru-containing layer between the recording layers and Co-containing stabilization layers through anti-ferromagnetic coupling. The insertion of Co layer beneath Ru spacer has resulted in increased coupling, and further coupling enhancement is achieved by low pressure process of Co and Ru layers.

Abstract: Although it is known that exchange bias can be utilized in abutted junctions for longitudinal stabilization, a relatively large moment is needed to pin down the sensor edges effectively. Due to the inverse dependence of the exchange bias on the magnetic layer thickness, a large exchange bias has been difficult to achieve by the prior art. This problem has been solved by introducing a structure in which the magnetic moment of the bias layer has been approximately doubled by pinning it from both above and below through exchange with antiferromagnetic layers. Additionally, since the antiferromagnetic layer is in direct abutted contact with the free layer, it acts directly to help stabilize the sensor edge, which is an advantage over the traditional magnetostatic pinning that had been used.

Abstract: A laminate structure includes an antiferromagnetic layer, a pinned magnetic layer, and a seed layer contacting the antiferromagnetic layer on a side opposite to pinned magnetic layer. The seed layer is constituted mainly by face-centered cubic crystals with (111) planes preferentially oriented. The seed layer is preferably non-magnetic. Layers including the antiferromagnetic layer, a free magnetic layer, and layers therebetween, have (111) planes preferentially oriented.

Abstract: It has been found that the insertion of a copper laminate within CoFe, or a CoFe/NiFe composite, leads to higher values of CPP GMR and DRA. However, this type of structure exhibits very negative magnetostriction, in the range of high ?10?6 to ?10?5. This problem has been overcome by giving the copper laminates an oxygen exposure treatment When this is done, the free layer is found to have a very low positive magnetostriction constant. Additionally, the value of the magnetostriction constant can be adjusted by varying the thickness of the free layer and/or the position and number of the oxygen treated copper laminates.

Abstract: A method of producing a magnetic recording medium including the steps of preparing alloy particles capable of forming a CuAu type or Cu3Au type ferromagnetic order alloy phase, forming an alloy particle layer on a support using the alloy particles, oxidizing the alloy particles, and annealing the alloy particle layer in a magnetic field under a reducing atmosphere. Also disclosed is a magnetic recording medium produced by the method, that is, a magnetic recording medium including a magnetic layer which contains magnetic particles in a CuAu type or Cu3Au type ferromagnetic order alloy phase and which has a squareness ratio of 0.75 or higher.

Abstract: A method of manufacture of thin film magnetic disks and other useful articles of similar planar geometry in which a non-magnetic layer is first deposited on one or both sides of the disk or article substrate to mask chemical and mechanically induced heterogeneities introduced by pre-polishing to achieve a smooth finish, typically resulting in cold-working of the surface, and to also bind to the substrate and is then coated with a thin layer of metal selected to either reactively or catalytically initiate smooth, electroless deposition of a non-magnetic nickel alloy which is subsequently polished and coated with additional thin layers to provide magnetic read-write capability. A disk drive using one or more of such disks is provided.

Abstract: In a composite magnetic body comprising soft magnetic powder dispersed in an organic binding agent and having an electromagnetic interference suppressing effect, powder excellent in thermal conductivity is further dispersed into the organic binding agent so as to provide a composite magnetic body excellent in thermal conductivity. This composite magnetic body may also be used as a heat dissipation sheet for an electronic device. Further, it may also constitute a heat sink having an electromagnetic interference suppressing effect. As the organic binding agent, thermoplastic polyimide or liquid crystal polymer can be cited. As the powder excellent in thermal conductivity, Al2O3, AlN, cubic BN, insulating SiC or a heat conductive reinforcement (capton) can be cited.

Abstract: A method for forming a trimmed upper pole piece for a magnetic write head, said pole piece having a tapered profile that is widest at its trailing edge. Such a pole piece is capable of writing narrow tracks with sharply and well defined patterns and minimal overwriting of adjacent tracks. The present method produces the necessary taper by using NiCr, NiFeCr, Rh or Ru as write gap filling materials which have an etch rate which is substantially equal to the etch rate of the other layers forming the pole piece and are highly corrosion resistant. As a result, the write gap does not protrude to mask the effects of the ion-beam etch used to form the taper.

Abstract: Reduction of the free layer thickness in GMR devices is desirable in order to meet higher signal requirements, besides improving the GMR ratio itself. However, thinning of the free layer reduces the GMR ratio and leads to poor thermal stability. This problem has been overcome by making AP2 from an inverse GMR material and by changing the free layer from a single uniform layer to a ferromagnetic layer AFM (antiferromagnetically) coupled to a layer of inverse GMR material. Examples of alloys that may be used for the inverse GMR materials include FeCr, NiFeCr, NiCr, CoCr, CoFeCr, and CoFeV. Additionally, the ruthenium layer normally used to effect antiferromagnetic coupling can be replaced by a layer of chromium. A process to manufacture the structure is also described.

Abstract: In current synthetically pinned CPP SV designs, AP2 always makes a negative contribution to the device's GMR since its magnetization direction must be anti-parallel to the pinned layer (AP1). This effect has been reduced by replacing the conventional single layer AP2, that forms part of the synthetic pinned layer, with a multilayer structure into which has been inserted at least one layer of a material such as tantalum that serves to depolarize the spin of electrons that traverse its interfaces. The result is a reduction of said negative contribution by AP2, leading to a significant increase in the GMR ratio.

Abstract: A method for forming a trimmed upper pole piece for a magnetic write head, said pole piece having a uniform width above and below a write gap layer. Prior art methods of trimming pole pieces to a final width using ion-beam etches produce pole pieces with thickness differentials due to the etch resistant nature of the alumina write-gap filling material. The present method uses NiCr, NiFeCr or Ru as write gap filling materials which have an etch rate which is substantially equal to the etch rate of the other layers forming the pole piece and are highly corrosion resistant.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording medium has a nonmagnetic substrate, a nonmagnetic underlayer, a magnetic layer, a protective film, and a liquid lubrication layer sequentially laminated on the substrate. The nonmagnetic layer is composed of a metal or alloy having a hcp crystal structure. The magnetic recording layer consists of ferromagnetic crystal grains and a nonmagnetic grain boundary phase mainly composed of an oxide surrounding the grains. A seed layer of a metal or alloy having a fcc crystal structure can be provided under the nonmagnetic underlayer, and a nonmagnetic alignment control layer can be provided under the seed layer. The recording medium can provide high output and low noise by improving the alignment of the magnetic recording layer, reducing the initial growth layer in the magnetic recording layer, and minimizing the grain size of the magnetic recording layer.

Abstract: A method and related apparatus to link and/or pattern self-assembled first objects to a second object. Each of the first object (e.g., a nanoparticle) can be embedded in a mobile binder (i.e., a stabilizer). The invention applies energy to the first object and stabilizer, links this first object to the second object, and provides a controlled linkage of the first object with respect to the second object. Applying this procedure to many such objects results in a larger a real arrangement of these linked objects. An appropriate solvent may be used to remove non-linked objects, yielding a patterned array. Thermal annealing can be applied to control the physical and chemical properties of the array.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium and method of manufacturing the same including directly texturing a surface of a non-magnetic substrate made of a glass material to form circular concentric grooves thereon, forming a seed layer on the non-magnetic substrate, forming an under layer on the seed layer, forming a magnetic layer on the under layer, and forming a protective layer on the magnetic layer. A ratio of an in-plane remanent magnetization in a circumferential direction of the magnetic recording medium to an in-plane remanent magnetization in a radial direction of the magnetic recording medium is equal to or greater than 1.05.

Abstract: An in-line, multi-station apparatus including an improved pallet for transporting a plurality of workpieces/substrates through the apparatus, the pallet comprising: (a) a sheet of electrically conductive material provided with a plurality of spaced-apart regions extending at least partway therethrough, each of the regions adapted to mount therein and expose at least one major surface of respective workpieces/substrates for receipt of the treatment; and (b) a plurality of electrical contact means for selectively and controllably electrically contacting respective ones of said plurality of workpieces/substrates for applying an electrical bias potential thereto during treatment. Embodiments include in-line apparatus for performing bias sputtering of electrically conductive thin films on insulative substrates in the manufacture of multi-layer magnetic and/or magneto-optical recording media.

Abstract: A system and method for forming servo patterns on magnetic media is disclosed. A magnetic film coated with a layer of polystyrene is stamped with a nickel stamper reproducing the negative image of the stamped pattern on the polystyrene. Ions are then accelerated towards the surface of the polystyrene, which stopps the ions in the areas where the polystyrene is thick and allows the ions to penetrate through to the magnetic layer in the areas where the polystyrene is thin. The ions, which penetrate through to the magnetic layer, interact with the magnetic layer altering the magnetic layer's structure reducing its coercivity (Hc) and remnant moment (Mrt). This reproduces the stamped polystyrene pattern on the magnetic layer. The polystyrene is then removed by oxygen plasma etching the surface leaving behind a patterned magnetic media.

Abstract: An improved and novel device and fabrication method for a magnetic element, and more particularly a magnetic element (10) including a first electrode (14), a second electrode (18) and a spacer layer (16). The first electrode (14) and the second electrode (18) include ferromagnetic layers (26 & 28). A spacer layer (16) is located between the ferromagnetic layer (26) of the first electrode (14) and the ferromagnetic layer (28) of the second electrode (16) for permitting tunneling current in a direction generally perpendicular to the ferromagnetic layers (26 & 28). The device includes insulative veils (34) characterized as electrically isolating the first electrode (14) and the second electrode (18), the insulative veils (34) including non-magnetic and insulating dielectric properties.

Abstract: A process for producing a magnetic recording medium is provided, the medium being formed from a non-magnetic flexible support, a non-magnetic layer comprising a non-magnetic powder and a binder, and a magnetic layer comprising a ferromagnetic powder and a binder. The non-magnetic layer is provided on top of the support, the magnetic layer is provided on top of the non-magnetic layer, and the non-magnetic powder includes two or more types of non-magnetic powder, including carbon black and a non-magnetic powder other than carbon black. The process includes a step of separately dispersing a non-magnetic liquid A that includes a binder and a non-magnetic powder other than carbon black, and a non-magnetic liquid B that includes carbon black and a binder, and a step of stirring and mixing the non-magnetic liquid A and the non-magnetic liquid B to prepare a non-magnetic coating solution.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to processes for producing electrically conductive noble metal thin films on a substrate by atomic layer deposition. According to one embodiment of the invention a substrate with a surface is provided in a reaction chamber and a vaporised precursor of a noble metal is pulsed into the reaction chamber. By contacting the vaporised precursor with the surface of the substrate, no more than about a molecular layer of the metal precursor is formed on the substrate. In a next step, a pulse of molecular oxygen-containing gas is provided in the reaction chamber, where the oxygen reacts with the precursor on the substrate. Thus, high-quality metal thin films can be deposited by utilising reactions between the metal precursor and oxygen. In one embodiment, electrically conductive layers are deposited in structures that have high aspect ratio vias and trenches, local high elevation areas or other similar surface structures that make the surface rough.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the isolation and/or purification of a proteinaceous material, wherein a solid phase comprising a mixture of hydrophobic and hydrophilic groups is used.

Abstract: A magnetoresistance effect film includes a substrate, a plurality of ferromagnetic particles disposed on the substrate, a nonmagnetic film deposited on the substrate and covering the plurality of ferromagnetic particles, and a pair of electrodes arranged on the nonmagnetic film, in which the resistance across the pair of electrodes is changed by applying a magnetic field. The magnetoresistance effect film is manufactured by vapor-depositing ferromagnetic particle starting material on a substrate at a temperature not exceeding 300° C., the starting material being vapor-deposited in an amount enough to cover the substrate surface to a thickness ranging from 0.5 to 15 nm, and, after formation of ferromagnetic particles on the substrate, vapor-depositing at a temperature not exceeding room temperature a nonmagnetic film over the ferromagnetic particles, the nonmagnetic film having a thickness ranging from 1 to 100 nm, and providing a pair of electrodes each at a predetermined position on the nonmagnetic film.

Abstract: A dual-sided stamper/imprinter for simultaneously forming magnetic transition patterns in spaced-apart first and second layers of magnetic material by contact printing comprises a mechanically hard, substantially rigid magnetic material having high saturation magnetization and high permeability and including first and second oppositely facing imprinting surfaces, wherein each of the imprinting surfaced has a topographical pattern formed therein comprising a patterned plurality of spaced-apart recesses with a plurality of non-recessed areas therebetween, each topographical pattern corresponding to a magnetic transition pattern to be formed in a respective layer of magnetic material. Also disclosed is a method for manufacturing dual-sided stampers/imprinters.

Abstract: To generate an especially good heat transfer between a seating face of a storage plate support and a storage plate, during coating with a sputter source in a vacuum installation, the seating face of the storage plate support is slightly annularly convexly arched and the storage plate is clamped in the center as well as on its outer margin by a center mask and an outer mask against the arched seating face. Hereby an especially good heat transfer is attained with very low arching d, whereby the storage plate is treated gently and simultaneously, during the coating process, no layer thickness distribution problems occur through arching that is too large.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a soft ferromagnetic film structure with reduced edge stress anisotropy and enhanced magnetization switching speed. A soft ferromagnetic film structure is formed over an underlying structure. The soft ferromagnetic film structure has one or more edges exhibiting edge stress anisotropy. A non-ferromagnetic film structure is formed along the one or more edges to induce stress contributions therein that control the edge stress anisotropy.

Abstract: A magnetic read head with reduced side reading characteristics is described. This design combines use of a current channeling layer (CCL) with stabilizing longitudinal bias layers whose magnetization direction is canted relative to that of the free layer easy axis and that of the pinned layer (of the GMR). This provides several advantages: First, the canting of the free layer at the side region results in a reduction of side reading by reducing magnetic sensitivity in that region. Second, the CCL leads to a narrow current flow profile at the side region, therefore producing a narrow track width definition. A process for making this device is described. Said process allows some of the requirements for interface cleaning associated with prior art processes to be relaxed.

Abstract: A method of producing a magnetic recording medium comprising the step of forming a magnetic layer on a non-magnetic base film running at a constant speed by continuous oblique evaporation depositing metal vapor of volatilized metal incident obliquely to a surface of the non-magnetic base film, wherein the evaporation is conducted at a film forming rate, defined as an average deposition rate of the magnetic layer at a part of the non-magnetic base film exposed to the incident metal vapor, of not less than a predetermined rate to form an internal microstructure of the magnetic layer comprising columns each having a diameter of not more than about 15 nm constituted by magnetic particles having a size of not more than about 10 nm connected in chains in a direction substantially perpendicular to the magnetic layer and non-magnetic particles packed between the columns and separating the columns from each other, and a magnetic recording medium produced by the above method.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a permanent magnet by the steps of preparing an admixture of magnetic material and binder material, the admixture material having a particle size of less than 325 mesh. Then heating a carrier gas to a temperature substantially below the melting point of either component of the admixture. The admixture is introduced into the carrier gas and the admixture is sprayed atop a ductile carrier. The admixture adheres to the carrier and forms a solid permanent magnet. An electric field is applied to the sprayed admixture to create a permanent magnetic moment.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for making a flexible magnet with an induced anisotropy, and in particular to a process for making a flexible anisotropic magnet by thermal spraying in the presence of an applied magnetic field. The method may be used to fabricate a substrate having a flexible anisotropic magnetic coating or a free standing anisotropic flexible magnet.

Abstract: A method for patterning a recording medium selectively thermally couples a recording medium and a heat source to alter a chemical composition of the recording medium. An apparatus for patterning a recording medium has a heat source for generating and directing an incident thermal wave to a recording medium so as to alter a chemical composition of the recording medium, and a controller for coordinating a mutual position of the incident thermal wave and the recording medium for inducing a direct thermal coupling between the recording medium and the heat source.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording medium is formed of a soft magnetic layer, an anti-ferromagnetic layer, a magnetic recording layer, a protective layer, and a liquid lubricant layer deposited in that order on a non-magnetic substrate. The anti-ferromagnetic layer is a Mn alloy containing at least Co at 10 atomic % or greater and 50 atomic % or less or a Mn alloy containing at least Ir at 10 atomic % or greater and 30 atomic % or less. A radial magnetic field is applied during formation of the anti-ferromagnetic layer and the soft magnetic layer. Exchange coupling with the anti-ferromagnetic layer controls magnetic domain walls of the soft magnetic layer. The need for heat treatment after film formation is eliminated.

Abstract: It is important for a CPP GMR read head that it have both high resistance as well as high cross-sectional area. This has been achieved by inserting a NOL (nano-oxide layer) though the middle of one or both of the two non-magnetic conductive layers. A key feature is that the NOL is formed by first depositing the conductive layer to about half its normal thickness. Then a metallic film is deposited thereon to a thickness that is low enough for it to still consist of individual islands. The latter are then fully oxidized without significantly oxidizing the conductive layer on which they lie. The remainder of the conductive layer is then deposited to a thickness sufficient to fully enclose the islands of oxide.

Abstract: A structure and method of fabricating a magnetic read head, comprises forming a fill layer for a magnetic read head gap using atomic layer deposition (ALD). The fill layer comprises an insulator, preferably aluminum oxide, aluminum nitride, mixtures thereof and layered structures thereof. Materials having higher thermal conductivity than aluminum oxide, such as berylium oxide and boron nitride, can also be employed in layers within an aluminum oxide structure. The thickness of the ALD-formed head gap fill layer is between approximately 5 nm and 100 nm, preferably between approximately 10 nm and 40 nm.

Abstract: Laminated magnetic recording medium with two Co-containing layers separated by a non-magnetic interlayer is stablished by Ru-containing layers between the recording layers and Co-containing stablization layers through antiferromagnetic coupling.

Abstract: A GMR spin valve is provided for reading a magnetic signal from a magnetic recording medium. The spin valve includes a non-magnetic layer such as for example copper, separated by first and second magnetic layers. The spin valve includes a pinned magnetic layer and a free magnetic layer, the resistance of the spin valve changing with the relative angle between the direction of magnetization of free and pinned layers. Extremely smooth surfaces are provided at the interfaces between the non-magnetic layer and the adjacent magnetic layers. This smooth interface greatly enhances the performance and reliability of the spin valve by allowing extremely tight control of the thickness of the non-magnetic layer and by preventing atomic diffusion between the non-magnetic and magnetic layers. This smooth interface is achieved by including a surfactant in the deposition of the non-magnetic layer.

Abstract: A servo-patterned magnetic recording medium, comprising: a magnetic layer having a surface with substantially uniform topography, the magnetic layer including a data zone and a servo pattern, the servo pattern comprising: (a) a first patterned plurality of regions of first, higher values of magnetic coercivity Hc and magnetic remanence-thickness product Mrt; and (b) a second patterned plurality of ion-implanted regions of second, lower values of Hc. and Mrt; wherein the second, lower values of Hc and Mrt are sufficiently lower than the first, higher values of Hc and Mrt as to permit sensing for enabling accurate positioning of a read/write transducer head in the data zone but sufficiently high for providing the medium with thermal stability, high amplitude of magnetic transition, and high signal-to-noise ratio.

Abstract: A process for producing a glass substrate for a magnetic recording medium by forming a surface roughness in a main surface of a glass plate that has been formed into a disk shape, includes: imparting a processing mark having a permanent strain to the main surface of the glass plate in a circumferential direction thereof; and chemically etching the whole main surface of the glass plate, so as to form the surface roughness.

Abstract: A process for producing a magnetic recording medium having a non-magnetic layer on a non-magnetic support and having a magnetic layer on the non-magnetic layer is provided. A process for producing a magnetic recording medium which comprises applying a non-magnetic layer coating material onto a non-magnetic support and drying the coating material to form a non-magnetic layer, and then applying a magnetic layer coating material more excessively than an intended magnetic layer-wet thickness onto the non-magnetic layer by using a die nozzle coating followed by scraping excess amounts of the magnetic layer coating material to the intended magnetic layer-wet thickness by means of a bar to form a magnetic coating layer.

Abstract: A magnetic medium having at least two intermediate layers between an underlayer and a magnetic layer. The first intermediate layer is designed to provide a good lattice match to the underlayer, while the second intermediate layer is designed to provide a good lattice match to the magnetic layer. Typically, the underlayer has one structure, such as body centered cube, while the magnetic layer has a second structure such as hexagonal close pack. In preferred embodiments, the transition from the one structure to the other structure occurs in the intermediate layers. For example, the first intermediate layer may be a hexagonal close pack structure. Because of the mismatch between the underlayer and the first layer, there may be crystal defects in this first intermediate layer. However, any remaining stress and mismatch is absorbed through the second layer, so that the second layer presents a substantially defect-free surface on which the magnetic layer may grow.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium comprising, in order, a non-metallic substrate; an amorphous metallic film having an amorphous structure; a crystal-structure-regulating film of NiP-based alloy; and a non-magnetic undercoat film and a magnetic film; and wherein the crystal-structure-regulating film has a film thickness of 50 nm or less, and a total film thickness of the amorphous metallic film and the crystal-structure-regulating film is at least 60 nm is disclosed.

Abstract: A magnetic recording media is formed with high in-plane coercivity employing dual magnetic layers. The first magnetic layer is sputter deposited in a chamber employing a shield such that the minimum incident angle of impinging atoms is relatively large, e.g., greater than about 26°. Embodiments of the present invention comprise depositing a NiAl seedlayer, a Cr or Cr alloy underlayer and a first CoCrTa magnetic layer at a thickness less than about 50 Å for inducing the preferred (10.0) crystallographic orientation in the subsequently deposited second magnetic layer, e.g., CoCrPtTa or CoCrPtTaNb having a high Cr content of about 16 to about 21 at. %.

Abstract: A production method of the present invention is a method of producing a spin valve type giant magnetoresistive thin film. In this production method, a buffer layer, an antiferromagnetic layer, a fixed magnetization layer, a nonmagnetic conductive layer, a free magnetization layer, and a protective layer are consecutively stacked on a substrate. Furter, plasma treatment is performed on predetermined stacked interfaces in the spin valve type giant magnetoresistive thin film to reduce the interlayer coupling magnetic field acting between the fixed magnetization layer and the free magnetization layer and to obtain a high MR ratio. The above production method can achieve both of the high MR ratio and low interlayer coupling magnetic field (Hin) in the thin film produced.

Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetic recording medium including at least a nonmagnetic undercoat layer, a nonmagnetic metallic intermediate layer, a magnetic layer, a protective film, and a liquid lubricant layer sequentially laminated on a nonmagnetic substrate, wherein the magnetic layer contains crystal grains having ferromagnetism and nonmagnetic grain boundaries surrounding the crystal grains, and the nonmagnetic metallic intermediate layer contains at least one layer, and the crystal structure of each layer being a hexagonal close-packed structure; and a method for producing the magnetic recording medium. The magnetic recording medium shows high coercive force Hc and a low medium noise, and its manufacturing cost is also low.

Abstract: A ferrite layer formation process that may be performed at a lower temperature than conventional ferrite formation processes. The formation process may produce highly anisotropic structures. A ferrite layer is deposited on a substrate while the substrate is exposed to a magnetic field. An intermediate layer may be positioned between the substrate and the ferrite to promote bonding of the ferrite to the substrate. The process may be performed at temperatures less than 300° C. Ferrite film anisotropy may be achieved by embodiments of the invention in the range of about 1000 dyn-cm/cm3 to about 2×106 dyn-cm/cm3.

Abstract: A method for effectively decreasing electromagnetic radiation by means of active absorbing material in a broad frequency band, preferably from 100 MHz-10 GHz, is provided wherein the material combines the desired shielding properties with the heat insulating properties of a porous material in addition to providing a favourable ratio between density and resistance. The method includes use of an absorber granulate which consists of a highly porous glass and/or ceramic granulate which is coated or filled with ferrite and/or an electrically conductive material.