Title :
Magnetic characterization and recording properties of patterned Co 70Cr18Pt12 perpendicular media
Author :
Rettner, Charles T. ; Anders, Simone ; Thomson, Thomas ; Albrecht, Manfred ; Ikeda, Yoshihiro ; Best, Margaret E. ; Terris, Bruce D.
Author_Institution :
IBM Almaden Res. Center, San Jose, CA, USA
fDate :
7/1/2002 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
A lithographically patterned magnetic medium is one of the proposed routes to magnetic recording at a density beyond that thought to be possible using conventional recording media due to thermal instability caused by superparamagnetism. Using a focused ion beam to pattern a granular Co70Cr18Pt12 film, we have fabricated sub-80-nm size islands that are single domain and with a narrowed switching field distribution and an enhanced thermal stability. Magnetic isolation of the islands is shown to be a result of vanishing of magnetic remanence and coercivity in the irradiated region and not a result of sputtering. Recording measurements using a quasi-static giant magnetoresistive head demonstrate the sensitivity to detect single 80-nm islands. The readback jitter from the patterned region is dramatically reduced compared to that measured for continuous media at the same linear density
Keywords :
chromium alloys; cobalt alloys; coercive force; focused ion beam technology; giant magnetoresistance; ion beam lithography; jitter; magnetic heads; magnetic thin films; magnetoresistive devices; perpendicular magnetic recording; platinum alloys; remanence; superparamagnetism; thermal stability; 80 nm; Co70Cr18Pt12; focused ion beam patterning; granular Co70Cr18Pt12 film; irradiated region; linear density; lithographically patterned magnetic medium; magnetic characterization; magnetic coercivity; magnetic isolation; magnetic recording density; magnetic recording media; magnetic recording properties; magnetic remanence; patterned Co70Cr18Pt12 perpendicular media; patterned region; quasi-static giant magnetoresistive head; readback jitter; recording measurements; sensitivity; single domain island fabrication; superparamagnetism; switching field distribution; thermal instability; thermal stability; Chromium; Coercive force; Enhanced magnetoresistance; Ion beams; Magnetic domains; Magnetic films; Magnetic properties; Magnetic recording; Remanence; Thermal stability;
Journal_Title :
Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on
DOI :
10.1109/TMAG.2002.1017763