FeRh/FePt exchange spring films for thermally assisted magnetic recording media

The temperature-dependent magnetic response of exchange-coupled FePt/FeRh thin films is described. The FePt forms a high magnetocrystalline anisotropy, high-coercivity ferromagnetic layer. The FeRh layer is antiferromagnetic at room temperature but, upon heating above a transition temperature, becomes ferromagnetic with a large magnetic moment and low magnetocrystalline anisotropy, forming an exchange-spring system and significantly lowering the coercive field of the composite system. This feature opens intriguing possibilities for media applications for thermally assisted magnetic recording where the ferromagnetic phase of FeRh is exploited to help write the media while the antiferromagnetic phase supports the long-time stability. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.