Three-dimensional analysis of the magnetization process of thin-film media

A calculation model in which the medium is considered as a set of many fine magnetic particles is applied to thin-film media. The magnetic characteristics are calculated for a particle with an initial layer, a particle without an initial layer, and media composed of the particles of either type. The results show that the switching mode of both particles is a quasi-coherent rotation but the switching field dependence of the particle with an initial layer has curlinglike characteristics. The perpendicular medium with an initial layer is over corrected by 4 pi M(s) demagnetization correction. (C) 1996 American Institute of Physics.