SmCo5-based thin films with high magnetic anisotropy for perpendicular magnetic recording

An investigation was carried out on the effects of the addition of Cu and the thickness of the SmCo₅-based thin film with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy upon its magnetic properties, with the aim of reducing the Cu/Ti underlayer thickness. As a result, the Cu/Ti underlayer thickness necessary to obtain the squareness ratio of unity was successfully reduced from 125 to 50 nm. Moreover, for the SmCo₅ double-layered perpendicular magnetic recording media with a CoZrNb soft magnetic underlayer, the Cu/Ti underlayer thickness was further reduced to 35 nm. However, the magnetic cluster size and the values of coercivity and saturation field of the SmCo₅ media were found to be too large. Thus, we recognized the need for adjusting the cluster size and the magnetic properties to appropriate values, and also the need for investigating the possibility of using this material as patterned media or thermally assisted recording media.