Development of CoX/Pd multilayer perpendicular magnetic recording media with granular seed layers

Abstract CoCrRu-based granular seed layers are studied to control the hysteresis properties of CoX/Pd multilayer based perpendicular magnetic recording media. Proper choice of the CoCrRu growth conditions is found to reduce the hysteresis slope parameter α and to improve the switching field distribution, suggesting that this granular seed layer is effective in producing exchange decoupled columnar structures. The results are confirmed by magnetic force microscopy studies of recorded patterns as well as by DC/AC-erase noise measurements, remanent coercivity studies and microstructural observations by transmission electron microscopy.