Influence of gas pressures on the magnetic properties and recording performance of CoCrPt-SiO2 perpendicular media

CoCrPt-SiO2-based granular perpendicular media with dual-Ru intermediate layers were studied in the paper. The effects of gas pressures, such as argon pressure for the top Ru layer, oxygen partial pressure ratio and the total gas pressure for the magnetic layer, on the magnetic properties and recording performance of the media were systematically investigated. The results show that all these gas pressure parameters have significant effects on the magnetic properties and recording performance of the media to different extents. Combined with the results by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, magnetic force microscopy, magneto-optical polar Kerr magnetometer and Guzik spin-stand tester, the growth mechanism of the perpendicular media and the functions of the gas pressure parameters for certain individual layer were demonstrated. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.