Ferromagnetically coupled magnetic recording media

Abstract

A ferromagnetically coupled magnetic recording medium having a first ferromagnetic layer, a second ferromagnetic layer, and a ferromagnetic coupling layer to ferromagnetically couple the first ferromagnetic layer to the second ferromagnetic layer is used as stable magnetic media with high MrT in high density recording hard drives. The first ferromagnetic layer is the stabilization layer and the second ferromagnetic layer is the main recording layer. The ferromagnetic coupling layer comprises a conductive material having a thickness which produces ferromagnetic coupling between said first ferromagnetic layer and said second ferromagnetic layer via the RKKY interaction.

1 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A method comprising:
 forming a first layer overlying a substrate;   forming a coupling layer overlying said first layer; and   forming said second layer overlying said coupling layer, wherein said coupling layer ferromagnetically couples said first layer and said second layer, wherein the first layer and the second layer are not ferromagnetically coupled without the coupling layer.   
     
     
         32 . The method as in  claim 31  wherein said forming a coupling layer comprises: forming a first interface layer; forming a spacer layer; and forming a second interface layer, wherein said spacer layer consists of Ru with a thickness of between 0 to 2 angstroms, or between 11 to 17 angstroms, or between 25 to 31 angstroms, to produce said ferromagnetic coupling of said first layer and said second layer. 
     
     
         33 . The method as in  claim 31  wherein said layer is non-magnetic, conductive and less than 6 nanometers in thickness, to produce said ferromagnetic coupling of said first layer and said second layer. 
     
     
         34 . The method as in  claim 33  wherein said coupling layer is one of Pt, Pd, and alloys thereof. 
     
     
         35 . The method as in  claim 31  wherein said first interface layer and said second interface layer have magnetic moments with magnetic saturations greater than 300 emu/cm 3 . 
     
     
         36 . The method as in  claim 31  wherein said forming a coupling layer comprises: forming a first interface layer; forming a spacer layer; and forming a second interface layer, wherein said first interface layer and said second interface layer are made from a material selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co and alloys made of Fe or Co mixed with one or more added elements selected from the group consisting of Cr, Pt, Ta, B, Mo, Pd, Cu, Au, Ti, W, Ru, Si, Ge, Nb, and Ni. 
     
     
         37 . The method as in  claim 31  wherein said first ferromagnetic layer and said second ferromagnetic layer are selected from the group consisting of alloys containing Co and Cr, and alloys containing CoCr with one or more added elements selected from the group consisting of Pt, Ta, B, Mo, Ru, Si, Ge, Nb, Fe and Ni. 
     
     
         38 . A method comprising:
 increasing remanence squareness-thickness-product (Mrt) of a perpendicular magnetic recording media by ferromagnetically coupling a ferromagnetic recording layer and a ferromagnetic stabilization layer,   wherein said perpendicular magnetic recording media comprises: a substrate; a seed layer or an underlayer; said ferromagnetic stabilization layer; a ferromagnetic coupling layer; and said ferromagnetic recording layer; and   wherein further said ferromagnetic coupling layer comprises, in overlying sequence: a first interface layer; a spacer layer; and a second interface layer.   
     
     
         39 . The method as in  claim 38  wherein said spacer layer consists of Ru with a thickness of between 0 to 2 angstroms, or between 11 to 17 angstroms, or between 25 to 31 angstroms, to produce said ferromagnetic coupling of said ferromagnetic recording layer and said ferromagnetic stabilization layer. 
     
     
         40 . The method as in  claim 38  wherein said ferromagnetic coupling layer is non-magnetic, conductive and less than 6 nanometers in thickness, to produce said ferromagnetic coupling of said ferromagnetic recording layer and said ferromagnetic stabilization layer. 
     
     
         41 . The method as in  claim 40  wherein said ferromagnetic coupling layer is one of Pt, Pd, and alloys thereof. 
     
     
         42 . The method as in  claim 38  wherein said first interface layer and said second interface layer have magnetic moments with magnetic saturations greater than 300 emu/cm 3 . 
     
     
         43 . The method as in  claim 38  wherein said first interface layer and said second interface layer are made from a material selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co and alloys made of Fe or Co mixed with one or more added elements selected from the group consisting of Cr, Pt, Ta, B, Mo, Pd, Cu, Au, Ti, W, Ru, Si, Ge, Nb, and Ni. 
     
     
         44 . The method as in  claim 38  wherein said ferromagnetic recording layer and said ferromagnetic stabilization layer are selected from the group consisting of alloys containing Co and Cr, and alloys containing CoCr with one or more added elements selected from the group consisting of Pt, Ta, B, Mo, Ru, Si, Ge, Nb, Fe and Ni. 
     
     
         45 . A method comprising:
 increasing remanence squareness-thickness-product (Mrt) of a perpendicular magnetic recording media by ferromagnetically coupling a ferromagnetic recording layer and a ferromagnetic stabilization layer using a ferromagnetic coupling layer; and   utilizing said ferromagnetic coupling of said ferromagnetic recording layer and said ferromagnetic stabilization layer to lower coercivity of said perpendicular magnetic recording media, and increase stability of said ferromagnetic recording layer between writing processes;   wherein said perpendicular magnetic recording media comprises: a substrate; a seed layer or an underlayer; said ferromagnetic stabilization layer; said ferromagnetic coupling layer; and said ferromagnetic recording layer.   
     
     
         46 . The method as in  claim 45  wherein said ferromagnetic recording layer and said ferromagnetic stabilization layer are selected from the group consisting of alloys containing Co and Cr, and alloys containing CoCr with one or more added elements selected from the group consisting of Pt, Ta, B, Mo, Ru, Si, Ge, Nb, Fe and Ni.