Composite perpendicular magnetic recording media using [CoPdSi] _n as a hard layer and FeSiO as a soft layer

We fabricated the composite perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) media successfully for the first time by combining a nanogranular FeSiO soft layer and a [CoPdSi] n hard layer. PdSi spacing layer (0-4 nm) was used to study the exchange coupling effects between the FeSiO(5 nm) and the [Co(0.26 nm)Pd(1 nm)] 14 layers in the composite films. Proper coupling occurs when PdSi interlayer is ~0.5 nm. Significant lowering of the coercivity is observed for the composite PMR medium while still maintaining good thermal stability. The results prove the possibility to fabricate a writable PMR medium having an ultrahigh magnetic anisotropy constant Ku value.