Micromagnetics of Co-based media: Experiment and model (invited)

Abstract

The micromagnetics of Co86Cr14 thin-film longitudinal recording media has been investigated using Lorentz transmission electron microscopy, in the Fresnel and differential phase contrast (DPC) modes. The media studied were 350-Å-thick Co86Cr14 on a 200-Å Cr layer, both of which were rf sputtered onto Si3N4 membranes for ease of observation in the TEM. Different magnetization states were investigated by imaging the sample at various points in the remanent hysteresis loop. This allowed direct comparison between experimental conditions and a micromagnetic computer model which assumes the media to be an array of single-domain particles, interacting via magnetostatics and moderate integranular exchange [J.-G. Zhu and H. N. Bertram, J. Appl. Phys. 63, 3248 (1988)]. The DPC imaging technique allows vector maps and two-dimensional histograms of the integrated in-plane magnetic induction to be obtained at each magnetization state for comparison with the computer model. The scale and displacement of magnetization vortices and ripple between different states was also investigated. Both experiment and model show increasing dispersion with increasing reversal field and motion of magnetization vortices. Comparison, using the model, of individual magnetization states in an applied field and at remanence indicate a strong influence of stray fields from the media on the DPC image contrast.