Patterned perpendicular and longitudinal media: a magnetic recording study

• Published in: IEEE transactions on magnetics Vol. 39; no. 5; pp. 2323 - 2325
• Main Authors: Albrecht, M., Ganesan, S., Rettner, C.T., Moser, A., Best, M.E., White, R.L., Terris, B.D.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01.09.2003; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Exact sciences and technology; Ion beams; Lithography; Magnetic anisotropy; Magnetic films; Magnetic heads; Magnetic properties and materials; Magnetic recording; Magnetic recording materials; Magnetism; Perpendicular magnetic anisotropy; Perpendicular magnetic recording; Physics; Studies of specific magnetic materials; Testing; Writing; Atomic force microscopy; Magnetic islands; Giant magnetoresistance; Experimental study; Focused ion beam technology; Magnetic thin films; Magnetic force microscopy; Magnetic anisotropy; Magnetic domains; Focused ion beam; Recording material; write read performance; Magnetic recording; patterned media
• ISSN: 0018-9464; 1941-0069
• DOI: 10.1109/TMAG.2003.816285

Isolated tracks of single-domain magnetic islands have been fabricated using focused ion beam lithography. Islands were fabricated in thin films having either perpendicular or longitudinal magnetic anisotropy, and in both cases writing and reading of individual islands was demonstrated using a static write/read tester. Additionally, we have investigated the synchronization requirements (write margin) needed for writing the different flavors of patterned media. We have found that the write margin is strongly dependent on the switching field distribution of the islands and on the head field gradient. In the presented study, the write margin is much larger for the longitudinal patterned media than for perpendicular patterned media.