Comparison of structural-magnetic properties of plated and sputtered thin film disks

Abstract

Cobalt-based alloy thin films, used in high density recording media, were deposited by electroless plating and DC magnetron sputtering on a variety of substrates. A comparison of the nucleations, the microstructures and magnetic properties were made. Deposition parameters and the substrate conditions were found to control the structure and magnetic properties of the films. Micromagnetic examination of the films by Lorentz microscopy revealed a ripple structure in some of the samples indicating the presence of exchange coupling in these films.