Co1-xCrx/Pt Multilayers as Perpendicular Recording Media

Abstract

We have investigated [formula omitted] multilayers as potential perpendicular media capable of high-density magnetic recording. The films exhibited strong perpendicular anisotropy, coercivity values ranging from 0.3 to 6.9 kOe, and a range of coercive squareness [formula omitted] from 0.21 to 0.96. Magnetic and atomic force microscopy were used to correlate the grain and magnetic domain structures. The degree of intergranular exchange is clearly dependent on the deposition temperature and, to a lesser extent, Cr content. [formula omitted] multilayers are ferromagnetic at room temperature for [formula omitted] which is not observed in thick [formula omitted] films. Initial recording results determined a [formula omitted] ratio of 23 dB for a [formula omitted] multilayer recorded at 10 kiloflux changes per millimeter using a standard longitudinal ring head. © 2000, American Institute of Physics. All rights reserved.