Abstract: Disclosed is a magneto-optical recording medium which comprises a transparent substrate and, provided on the substrate, a magneto-optical recording film comprising a perpendicular magnetic film based on rare earth metal-transition metal and an auxiliary magnetic film having spontaneous magnetization which exerts, between itself and the magneto-optical recording film, an exchange coupling force on each other and in which the auxiliary magnetic film used is a magnetic film which readily rotates its magnetization direction toward the external magnetic field in the neighborhood of the Curie temperature of the magneto-optical recording film and has a squareness ratio of not more than 1 in the neighborhood of the Curie temperature, and a process for producing the magneto-optical recording medium.

Abstract: The present invention provides an exchange coupling film having a stacked-film-structure consisting of a ferromagnetic film made of at least one material of Fe, Co and Ni, and an antiferromagnetic film, wherein the exchange coupling film made of a ferromagnetic material to which an element is added, is provided at the interface between the ferromagnetic film and the antiferromagnetic film so as to improve the lattice matching, which results in the enhancement of the exchange coupling force, and a magnetoresistance effect element including such an exchange coupling film as described above, and an electrode for supplying a current to the ferromagnetic film which constitutes the exchange coupling film.

Abstract: A magnetic thin film is disclosed which has a composition represented substantially by the following chemical formula and, the same time, has the whole or part of the thin film formed of an amorphous region:{(Fe.sub.1-x Co.sub.x).sub.1-y (B.sub.1-z X.sub.z).sub.y }.sub.1-a RE.sub.awherein X represents at least one element selected from among the Group 4B elements in the CAS version of the Periodic Table, RE represents rare earth elements including Sm, and x, y, z, and a represent numerical values satisfying the following expressions, 0<x<1, 0<z<1, 0.05<y<0.36, and 0<a.ltoreq.0.1.

Abstract: A diffusion barrier to help protect titanium aluminide alloys, including the coated alloys of the TiAl.gamma.+Ti.sub.3 Al (.alpha..sub.2) class, from oxidative attack and interstitial embrittlement at temperatures up to at least 1000.degree. C. is disclosed. The coating may comprise FeCrAlX alloys. The diffusion barrier comprises titanium, aluminum, and iron in the following approximate atomic percent:Ti-(50-55)Al-(9-20)Fe.This alloy is also suitable as an oxidative or structural coating for such substrates.

Abstract: The present invention includes a magnetoresistive type sensor having a first sensor layer of NiFe and a first layer of antiferromagnetic material, preferably NiMn. Portions of the first NiFe layer are deposited directly on top of the first layer of antiferromagnetic material such that the portions of the first NiFe sensor layer are in contact with the first layer of antiferromagnetic material. The first layer of antiferromagnetic material exchange couples with the first NiFe sensor layer to thereby provide domain stabilization of the first NiFe sensor layer. The first layer of antiferromagnetic material is deposited directly on top of a first baselayer of molybdenum to enhance the exchange coupling between the first NiFe sensor layer and the first antiferromagnetic layer.

Abstract: A coated article includes a superalloy substrate, an intermediate bond coat and a thermal barrier coating. The bond coat may include a platinum aluminide layer underlying a thin oxide layer. The thin oxide layer may include alumina. The coated article has high strength and durability at high temperatures over extended periods of time and thus is especially useful in the form of, e.g., a turbine blade or turbine vane.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic element is disclosed which uses a soft magnetic thin film having a composition represented by the general formula:T.sub.100-x-y M.sub.x (AO.sub.v).sub.y(wherein T stands for at least one element selected from the group consisting of Fe and Co, M for at least one element selected from the group consisting of Zr, Hf, Nb, and Y, and A for at least one element selected from the group consisting of Si, Ge, Sn, B, P, and C, and x, y, and v respectively satisfy the expressions, 5.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.20 at. %, 8.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.25 at. %, and 0.ltoreq.v.ltoreq.2), consisting of a homogeneous amorphous phase, and having resistivity of not less than 1000 .mu..OMEGA..multidot.cm. Further, a thin film magnetic element is disclosed which uses a soft magnetic thin film of a microstructure having a composition substantially represented by the general formula, T.sub.100-x-z M.sub.x (AO.sub.v).sub.z (1.ltoreq.z.+-.10 at.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a high-density magnetic recording medium (or "media" as it is sometimes called) for a recording/reproduction system (such as thosed used in computer disk drives) and, more particularly, to a magnetic recording medium having a plurality of magnetic recording layers such that the uppermost layer is comparatively thinner and more densely structured than the lower magnetic recording layers. The present magnetic recording medium comprises a non-magnetic plated substrate, a non-magnetic underlying layer laminated on the plated substrate, a plurality of magnetic alloy layers including the uppermost layer laminated onto the underlying layer, a non-magnetic covering layer laminated onto the uppermost layer, and a lubricating layer formed onto the non-magnetic covering layer.

Abstract: A low-noise, thin-film magnetic recording medium, and method of making the same, are disclosed. The medium has a multilayer magnetic-film construction, where the individual magnetic-film layers are isolated by a thin ferromagnetic film. The ferromagnetic layer is effective to reduce the medium noise and increase medium signal-to-noise ratio at least as much as a Cr isolation having the same isolation-layer thickness, but with substantially less reduction in overwrite.

Abstract: A metal film type magnetic recording medium in which the saturated magnetic flux density is high and iron having a good corrosion resistance is applied. The magnetic layer comprises metal films formed, in order on a base film, each containing iron, cobalt and nickel as main components.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a magnetoresistance effect element which has a film with a spin valve structure or an artificial lattice film having good soft magnetic characteristics, and which can be applied to a high-sensitivity magnetic head. The present invention provides a magnetoresistance effect element including a stacked film formed on a substrate by sequentially stacking a ferromagnetic film containing as its main constituents at least one elements selected from the group consisting of Co, Fe, and Ni, a nonmagnetic film, and the ferromagnetic film, wherein the two ferromagnetic films are not coupled with each other, and the closest packed plane of each ferromagnetic film is oriented in a direction perpendicular to the film surface.

Abstract: A thermal barrier protected nickel based or cobalt based superalloy component for use in a gas turbine engine includes a thermal barrier coating system having a multi-layered structure. The first bondcoat layer of the thermal barrier coating system comprises a chemical vapor deposited, platinum modified diffusion aluminide layer on the superalloy component (substrate). The diffusion aluminide layer includes an inner diffusion zone proximate the substrate and an outer layer region comprising a platinum modified (platinum-bearing) intermediate phase of aluminum and at least one of nickel and cobalt depending on the superalloy composition. The intermediate phase is a non-ordered solid solution having a range of compositions and is free of other phase constituents.

Abstract: A coated superalloy component includes a substrate article formed of a superalloy and an adherent coating over the substrate. The coating is a nickel-base superalloy containing 0.3 volume percent or more of a dispersed oxide of yttrium, hafnium and/or a rare earth, and, preferably, grain boundary strengthening elements such as carbon, zirconium, and boron. The oxide dispersoids improve the performance of the coating in service, reducing the incidence failures due to thermal fatigue, oxidation, and corrosion damage. The dispersoid-containing coating may be formed by directly depositing the oxide-containing coating, or by depositing a metallic coating under conditions which permit the formation of such dispersoids during the deposition process.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a magnetoresistance effect element which has a film with a spin valve structure or an artificial lattice film having good soft magnetic characteristics, and which can be applied to a high-sensitivity magnetic head. The present invention provides a magnetoresistance effect element including a stacked film formed on a substrate by sequentially stacking a ferromagnetic film containing as its main constituents at least one elements selected from the group consisting of Co, Fe, and Ni, a nonmagnetic film, and the ferromagnetic film, wherein the two ferromagnetic films are not coupled with each other, and the closest packed plane of each ferromagnetic film is oriented in a direction perpendicular to the film surface.

Abstract: Disclosed is a magneto-resistance effect element indicating a larger magneto-resistance effect at room temperature under impression of low magnetic field is obtained with the construction wherein the characteristics of artificial metallic lattice membrane are exploited.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a magnetoresistance effect element which has a film with a spin valve structure or an artificial lattice film having good soft magnetic characteristics, and which can be applied to a high-sensitivity magnetic head. The present invention provides a magnetoresistance effect element including a stacked film formed on a substrate by sequentially stacking a ferromagnetic film containing as its main constituents at least one elements selected from the group consisting of Co, Fe, and Ni, a nonmagnetic film, and the ferromagnetic film, wherein the two ferromagnetic films are not coupled with each other, and the closest packed plane of each ferromagnetic film is oriented in a direction perpendicular to the film surface.

Abstract: A magneto-optical recording medium in which direct overwriting can be done by only modifying the power level and/or the pulse width of applied optical pulses, and without changing the direction of the bias magnetic field. The recording layer comprises first and second magnetic recording layers. The first magnetic layer is a rare-earth transition metal-amorphous alloy and has a perpendicular easy magnetization axis, a thickness of 10 to 200 nm, and a compensation temperature above room temperature. The second magnetic layer comprises an alloy of a first component of Co and/or Fe and a second component of a rare earth metal and/or a noble metal or an alloy of Co and at least one metal selected from Ti, Cr, Mn, Cu, Zn, Ga and Ge. The second magnetic layer is a material having an in-plane easy magnetization axis such that it has a magnetization axis parallel to the second magnetic layer if formed independently on a dielectric layer, the second magnetic layer having a thickness of not more than 3 nm.

Abstract: A [(Pt/Co/Pt)/Pd] multilayer thin film (40) provides improved perpendicular anisotropy and magnetic coercivity relative to Pt/Co multilayer thin films (10) without reducing the Kerr rotations provided by the component Pt/Co layers (44, 48, 46). [(Pt/Co/Pt)/Pd] multilayer thin films (40) comprise a substrate (26), an optional underlayer (110) including a crystallographically textured layer (114) of Pt and a crystallographically textured layer (116) of Pd, and several quadlayers (42) of Pt, Co, and Pd forming a periodic array (43) in the direction of the normal to the substrate (26). Each quadlayer (42) of the periodic array (43) typically comprises a first layer (44) of Pt atoms approximately one to two atomic monolayers thick, a layer (46) of Co between one and three atomic monolayers thick, a second layer (48) of Pt of substantially the same thickness as the first layer (44) of Pt, and a layer (50) of Pd that is at least as thick as the Pt layers.

Abstract: In an artificial superlattice magnetoresistance effect element in which two or more of magnetic thin film layers having different coercive forces are stacked with intervening of a non-magnetic film layer and resistance changes depending on directions of magnetization in adjacent magnetic thin film layers by utilizing differences in the coercive forces, an anisotropy magnetic field Hk is increased by reducing a thickness of a soft magnetic layer, anisotropy in the magnetic thin film layer is obtained by forming the magnetic thin film layer in a magnetic field to thus increase the Hk, a material having large Hk is used as a soft magnetic material for the soft magnetic layer, and further the anisotropy is obtained by reducing a pattern width into 1-30 .mu.m to thus increase the Hk, whereby the resistance change is achieved in the neighborhood of a zero magnetic field and thus no bias mechanism is required.

Abstract: Media according to the present invention is comprised of individual magnetic grains as small as 300 .ANG. or smaller in diameter, which are uniformly spaced apart by a distance between 5 and 50 .ANG. by a solid segregant. This media will typically exhibit coercivity and remanent coercivity squareness of at least 0.8 each, a switching field distribution of less than 0.2, and a coercivity of at least 1500 Oe (with a minimum required Pt content), while simultaneously providing the lowest media jitter noise for optimum magnetic performance. The media is deposited at a low partial pressure of water and in the presence of an optimum amount of contributant gas on a doped nucleation layer for grain growth control.

Abstract: A magneto-optical recording medium including a base; a readout layer formed on the base; a recording layer formed on the readout layer; and an auxiliary recording layer formed on the recording layer, each of the readout layer, recording layer and auxiliary recording layer being made of an alloy of rare-earth metal and transition metal showing ferrimagnetism.

Abstract: Disclosed is a magneto-resistance effect element indicating a larger magneto-resistance effect at room temperature under impression of low magnetic field is obtained with the construction wherein the characteristics of artificial metallic lattice membrane are exploited.

Abstract: Disclosed is a magneto-optical recording medium which comprises a transparent substrate and, provided on the substrate, a magneto-optical recording film comprising a perpendicular magnetic film based on rare earth metal-transition metal and an auxiliary magnetic film having spontaneous magnetization which exerts, between itself and the magneto-optical recording film, an exchange coupling force and wherein the auxiliary magnetic film is a magnetic film which readily rotates its magnetization direction toward the external magnetic field in the neighborhood of the Curie temperature of the magneto-optical recording film and has a squareness ratio of not more than 1 in the neighborhood of the Curie temperature. Also disclosed is a process for producing the magneto-optical recording medium.

Abstract: A soft magnetic thin film represented by the formula Fe.sub.a X.sub.b Zr.sub.c B.sub.d, wherein a, b, c and d stand for atomic percents for respective components and X indicates at least one of Co, Ni, Cr and V. The proportions of the components is such that 86.ltoreq.a+b.ltoreq.93, 0<b.ltoreq.10, 4.ltoreq.c.ltoreq.9 and 1.ltoreq.d.ltoreq.8. The thin film exhibits satisfactory soft magnetic properties even when it is formed by thin film forming methods through vapor deposition, such as sputtering.

Abstract: A soft-magnetic multilayer thin film produced by electroplating, wherein an anode-dissolution process is effected by intermittently applying a reverse d.c. bias current with respect to the plating-forward current. Involving the anode-dissolution process allows the formation of a re-dissolution effect layer differing in crystal structure from the plated film layer. A soft-magnetic multilayer thin film characterized by having a multilayer film structure which comprises a plated layer and a re-dissolution effect layer laminated to each other and which the plated layer is at least magnetically isolated. Further, a method of manufacturing a soft-magnetic multilayer thin film having a multilayer film structure magnetically isolated only through plating, which is offered by introducing the anode-dissolution process.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium having a substrate, and an artificial superlattice deposited on the substrate as a vertical magnetization film. The artificial superlattice is a Co/Pt artificial superlattice which is composed of alternate Co and Pt layers deposited on the substrate. The magnetic recording medium is fabricated by the steps of: disposing a Co target and a Pt or Pd target separating from a substrate; performing an RF sputtering to the substrate by alternately facing the substrate with the Co target and the Pt or Pd target by means of periodical movement of the substrate, thereby forming a Co/Pt or Co/Pd artificial superlattice) on the substrate; and performing heat treatment to the Co/Pt or Co/Pd artificial superlattice at a temperature T in the range of 200.degree. C. to 450.degree. C. inclusive.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive layered structure having a pair of magnetoresistive, anisotropic ferromagnetic thin-films separated by an intermediate layer on a substrate of less than 50 .ANG. thickness formed of a substantially nonmagnetic, conductive alloy having two immiscible components therein.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium and magnetic recording apparatus which can provide a high output level and a low noise level are disclosed. A magnetic recording medium includes a multilayer structure of magnetic alloy thin films containing Co, and at least one paramagnetic intermediate region or oxygen-rich region disposed between the magnetic layers. The intermediate region reduces the magnetic interaction between the magnetic layers without the degradation of crystallinity of the magnetic layers. As a result, a magnetic recording medium having such a structure shows low noise performance and a high recording density.

Abstract: A thin-film multilayered recording medium is disclosed. The medium contains two or more magnetic thin-film sublayers separated by an isolation layer having an axial composition gradient.

Abstract: Laminates of magnetic and magnetic quenching laminae are provided for use as magnetic thin film laminates for use in magnetic recording heads. The use of these films significantly reduces the number of domains and Barkhausen noise levels in such recording heads.

Abstract: A soft magnetic alloy film includes: a fine crystalline phase having an average grain size of 10 nm or less and essentially consisting of Fe of b-c-c structure; and an amorphous phase containing a rare earth element or at least one of the elements, Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta and W, and O (oxygen) in a large amount, the fine crystalline phase and amorphous phase existing in a mixed state, with the proportion of the fine crystalline phase of Fe of b-c-c structure to the entire structure being 50% or less. A plane magnetic element employs such a soft magnetic alloy.

Abstract: A longitudinal magnetic recording medium formed on a non-metallic substrate and a method of forming the medium is disclosed. A sublayer formed of a chromium alloy having a thickness between 3-50 .ANG. is deposited on the substrate, followed by a chromium-based underlayer. A cobalt-based magnetic recording layer is sputtered over the underlayer. The medium is characterized by improved coercivity, HF signal amplitude and signal-to-noise ratio.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive layered structure having on a substrate two or more magnetoresistive, anisotropic ferromagnetic thin-films each two of which are separated by an intermediate layer on a substrate of less than 50 .ANG. thickness formed of a substantially nonmagnetic, conductive alloy having two immiscible components therein. A further component to provide temperature stability in some circumstances is to be at least partially miscible in the first two components. Such structures can be formed as a sensor by having them electrically connected together with one positioned in a gap between magnetic material masses and one shielded by one of such masses.

Abstract: A thermal barrier coating for superalloy turbine engine vanes and blades that are exposed to high temperature gas is disclosed. The coating includes an Aluminide or MCrAlY layer, an alumina layer, and a ceramic top layer. The ceramic layer has a columnar grain microstructure. A bond inhibitor is disposed in the gaps between the columnar grains. This inhibitor is either unstabilized zirconia, unstabilized hafnia, or a mixture thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for forming a diffusion barrier at one or more surfaces of a protective coating. In a preferred embodiment, the protective coating is an MCrAlY coating, and the diffusion barrier is a submicron layer of rhenium atoms. The rhenium diffusion barrier is formed by condensing vaporized rhenium onto the surface of the component and substantially simultaneously bombarding the surface with an energetic beam of inert ions. The high, localized concentration of rhenium atoms at the surface(s) of the protective coating dramatically slows the diffusion of constituent elements from the coating.

Abstract: In a magnetoresistive effect head comprising a ferromagnetic magnetoresistive effect layer, an inverse ferromagnetic layer (3) for generating a longitudinal bias magnetic field by an exchange force with respect to the ferromagnetic magnetoresistive effect layer (4), a ground layer (2) having a face-centered cubic structure is provided on only a portion of the anti-ferromagnetic layer. In the magnetoresistive effect head further comprising a soft magnetic bias-assistant layer (12) for a transversal bias magnetic field in the ferromagnetic magnetoresistive effect layer (15), the soft magnetic bias-assistant layer (12) has a crystal structure other than a face-centered cubic structure, the ground layer (13) having a face-centered cubic structure is provided on only a portion of the anti-ferromagnetic layer (14).

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium includes a non-magnetic metal primary layer and a thin ferromagnetic alloy layer which are sequentially formed on a non-magnetic substrate in a laminated manner by sputtering. The thin ferromagnetic alloy layer is composed of not more than 15 at % of chromium, not more than 12 at % of platinum, 0.15 to 5.4 at % of a metal element selected from the group consisting of tantalum, hafnium, tungsten, zirconium and niobium, and the balance cobalt. The magnetic recording medium has a coercive force of higher than 1500 Oe and a squareness ratio of higher than 0.85.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a magnetoresistance effect element which has a film with a spin valve structure or an artificial lattice film having good soft magnetic characteristics, and which can be applied to a high-sensitivity magnetic head. The present invention provides a magnetoresistance effect element including a stacked film formed on a substrate by sequentially stacking a ferromagnetic film containing as its main constituents at least one elements selected from the group consisting of Co, Fe, and Ni, a nonmagnetic film, and the ferromagnetic film, wherein the two ferromagnetic films are not coupled with each other, and the closest packed plane of each ferromagnetic film is oriented in a direction perpendicular to the film surface.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium comprising a nonmagnetic base, an SiO.sub.x (x=1.2-1.95) undercoat, an under-layer ferromagnetic metal film consisting of a Co--Ni alloy, an SiO.sub.x (x=1.2-1.95) intermediate layer, an upper-layer ferromagnetic metal protective film consisting of a Co--Ni alloy, a diamond-like carbon protective film, and a lubricant layer, formed in the order of mention, the angles of vapor deposition as measured from lines normal to the upper- and under-layer ferromagnetic metal films being all decreasing toward the upper surfaces. The magnetic recording medium is made by forming an SiO.sub.x (x=1.2-1.

Abstract: A silicon-enriched aluminide coating for a superalloy article has a composite microstructure including a plurality of bands of silicon rich phases (S.sub.1, S.sub.2, S.sub.3) and a plurality of bands of aluminum rich phases (A.sub.1, A.sub.2, A.sub.3), these bands being spaced apart through the thickness of the coating. The composite microstructure is created by depositing a slurry containing both silicon and aluminum in elemental or pre-alloyed form on the article and heating the coated article above the melting temperature of aluminum to cure the coating, the depositing and curing steps being repeated at least once before diffusion heat treating the resulting layers. Thereupon, all the above process steps are repeated at least once.

Abstract: A magneto-optical recording medium on which rewriting is possible is composed of a substrate and a recording layer exhibiting perpendicular anisotropy formed thereon. The recording layer consists of at least a transition-metal layer and a rare-earth-metal layer, or at least two transition metal--rare earth metal alloy layers, which are alternately overlaid on each other, and each of the layers further contains a precious metal in an amount of 1 atom % to 10 atom %.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium has a cobalt-based first magnetic layer and a cobalt-based second magnetic layer which are formed on a substrate of high polymer by vacuum evaporation. In order to have a high reproducing output and a high S/N ratio, the first magnetic layer has high oxygen density area which is arranged at a vicinity of the second magnetic layer, and the second magnetic layer has high oxygen density area which is arranged at a vicinity of the first magnetic layer.

Abstract: A thermal barrier coating for superalloy turbine engine vanes and blades that are exposed to high temperature gas is disclosed. The coating includes a ceramic layer applied to an Aluminide or MCrAlY bond coat by electron beam physical vapor deposition. The ceramic layer has a first portion having unstabilized porosity, a second portion, overlying the first portion, with stabilized porosity, and an outer portion wherein the pores are coated with a noble metal. The stabilized porosity portion along with the noble metal coating reduce the thermal conductivity of the ceramic layer. Stabilizing the porosity renders it more resistant to sintering densification at high temperatures.

Abstract: A garnet polycrystalline film for a magneto-optical recording medium including at least two layers of polycrystalline garnet represented by Bi.sub.x R.sub.3-x M.sub.Y Fe.sub.5-Y O.sub.12, where 0.ltoreq.X.ltoreq.3, 0 Y.ltoreq.5, R represents one or more rare earth elements containing yttrium, and M represents Ga, Al or In, wherein crystal lattice constants of these adjacent two layers are different from each other by .+-.0.3% or more, and an average crystal grain diameter of one of the layers is smaller than that of the other layer and 1 .mu.m or less, and a magneto-optical recording disk using this garnet polycrystalline film.

Abstract: A metallic component of a gas-turbine installation is formed of a nickel-based base material and at least two coating layers superimposed on the base material for improving corrosion-resistance thereof. The coating layers include a first layer having a composition and/or thickness for resisting corrosive attack of the nickel-based base material at temperatures of 600.degree. C. to 800.degree. C. (HTCII), and a second coating layer having a composition and/or thickness for resisting corrosive attack of the base material at temperatures of 800.degree. C. to 900.degree. C. (HTCI).

Abstract: A thin-film rigid disk magnetic medium is prepared having a non-magnetic substrate and a magnetic alloy layer formed on the substrate with a non-magnetic underlayer containing chromium as the main component interposed therebetween, where the magnetic alloy layer contains cobalt as the main component and not more than 8 atomic % of boron, not more than 40 atomic % of nickel, not more than 26 atomic % of chromium and not more than 10 atomic % of tantalum. Preferably, the magnetic alloy layer is formed by sputtering while a voltage relatively lower than the plasma potential is applied to the non-magnetic substrate.

Abstract: The invention relates to cobalt metal powders as a binder metal for the production of diamond and/or hard-metal tools and/or wear-resistant coatings and to composite sintered articles produced therefrom.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium comprising alumite made by anodic oxidation of aluminum or an aluminum alloy and comprising fine pores in which a ferromagnetic material is filled, wherein an in-plane remanence is at least 2.5 times greater than a perpendicular remanence and a magnetic recording medium of the above alumite, wherein the magnetic material is at least one material selected from the group consisting of Fe or Co, alloy mainly composed of Fe or Co, an Co or Fe containing a P element, and an alloy mainly composed of Co or Fe and containing the P element.

Abstract: There is provided a magnetoresistance effect element comprising a substrate and at least two magnetic thin layers which are laminated with interposing a non-magnetic thin layer therebetween on said substrate, wherein adjacent magnetic thin layers through the non-magnetic thin layer have different coercive forces, characterized in that a metal thin film is provided in an interface between at least one of the magnetic layers and the non-magnetic layer which is adjacent thereto, and the metal thin film is made of a substance which is different from that of the adjacent non-magnetic layer.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium for digital recording has a magnetic layer on a non-magnetic substrate. The magnetic layer includes a lower layer of ferromagnetic metal thin film nearer to the substrate surface and an upper layer of ferromagnetic metal thin film, each ferromagnetic metal thin film being composed of columnar grains deposited by oblique evaporation process. The average growth directions of columnar grains in the lower and upper layers intersect each other from opposite sides of a normal to the substrate surface. Digital recording is carried out by means of a magnetic head in relative motion toward or opposite to the growth direction of columnar grains in the upper layer.