New solutions for improving recording performance of magnetic recording media

Until some potentially superior technology such as perpendicular recording becomes practical, several solutions were proposed to extend the longitudinal recording. Among them, the most promising in this stage of evolution of magnetic recording seems to be the magnetic recording media with thermal stabilization layers and the recording media comprising monodisperse high-anisotropy nanoparticles in a self-organized patterning. Both these types of media have been found to have higher thermal stability (delaying the superparamagnetic effect), low noise and higher signal resolution which, in turn, led to higher areal density and a better signal-to-noise ratio. The media with thermal stabilization layers consist of two antiferromagnetically coupled ferro-magnetic layers. Their higher areal density and better thermal stability are due to the reduced value of the so-called magnetic thickness M(r)delta (M-r - remanent magnetization, delta - layer thickness) and to the increased grain volume as compared to conventional (monolayer) media. On the other hand, the self-organized patterned media permit the better control of the film surface, of the uniformity of the composition, of the geometry of constituent nanoparticles and their magnetic easy axis orientation which led to the improvement of recording properties. Understanding the magnetic properties of these media ensures the control of the reversal and stability of these systems, and is essential in determining their storage potential and in achieving their design.