Patterned magnetic media having an exchange bridge structure connecting islands

Abstract

Patterned magnetic recording media and associated methods of fabrication are described. The patterned magnetic recording media includes a perpendicular magnetic recording layer that is patterned into a plurality of discrete magnetic islands. The patterned magnetic recording media also includes an exchange bridge structure formed from magnetic material that connects the islands of the perpendicular magnetic recording layer. Connecting the islands with magnetic material increases exchange coupling between the islands, which makes the islands more magnetically stable.

1 . A patterned magnetic recording media, comprising:
 a perpendicular magnetic recording layer that is etch-patterned into a plurality of discrete magnetic islands of a first magnetic material; and   an exchange bridge structure of a second magnetic material that connects the islands of the perpendicular magnetic recording layer to increase exchange coupling between the islands.   
     
     
         2 . The patterned magnetic recording media of  claim 1  wherein the exchange bridge structure is formed beneath the perpendicular magnetic recording layer to connect the bottoms of the islands. 
     
     
         3 . The patterned magnetic recording media of  claim 1  wherein the exchange bridge structure is formed on top of the perpendicular magnetic recording layer to connect the tops of the islands. 
     
     
         4 . The patterned magnetic recording media of  claim 1  wherein the exchange bridge structure is formed between the islands. 
     
     
         5 . The patterned magnetic recording media of  claim 1  wherein the exchange bridge structure comprises:
 an exchange bridge layer of the second magnetic material; and 
 an exchange control layer of non-magnetic material between the exchange bridge layer and the perpendicular magnetic recording layer, which is adapted to control the amount of exchange coupling between the islands and the exchange bridge layer. 
 
     
     
         6 . The patterned magnetic recording media of  claim 1  wherein the exchange bridge structure comprises a soft magnetic underlayer (SUL). 
     
     
         7 . The patterned magnetic recording media of  claim 6  further comprising:
 an exchange control layer of non-magnetic material between the SUL and the perpendicular magnetic recording layer, which is adapted to control the amount of exchange coupling between the islands and the SUL. 
 
     
     
         8 . A method of fabricating a patterned magnetic recording media, the method comprising:
 fabricating a perpendicular magnetic recording layer that is etched to form a pattern of discrete magnetic islands of a first magnetic material; and   fabricating an exchange bridge structure formed from a second magnetic material that connects the islands of the perpendicular magnetic recording layer to increase exchange coupling between the islands.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein fabricating an exchange bridge structure comprises:
 fabricating the exchange bridge structure beneath the perpendicular magnetic recording layer to connect the bottoms of the islands. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein fabricating an exchange bridge structure comprises:
 fabricating an exchange bridge structure on top of the perpendicular magnetic recording layer to connect the tops of the islands. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein fabricating an exchange bridge structure comprises:
 fabricating the exchange bridge structure between the islands. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8  wherein fabricating an exchange bridge structure comprises:
 fabricating an exchange bridge layer formed from the second magnetic material; and 
 fabricating an exchange control layer formed from non-magnetic material between the exchange bridge layer and the perpendicular magnetic recording layer, which is adapted to control the amount of exchange coupling between the islands and the exchange bridge layer. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8  wherein fabricating an exchange bridge structure comprises:
 fabricating a soft magnetic underlayer (SUL). 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising:
 fabricating an exchange control layer of non-magnetic material between the SUL and the perpendicular magnetic recording layer, which is adapted to control the amount of exchange coupling between the islands and the SUL. 
 
     
     
         15 . A method of fabricating a patterned magnetic recording media, the method comprising:
 depositing a soft magnetic underlayer (SUL) on a substrate;   depositing an interlayer on the SUL;   depositing a perpendicular magnetic recording layer on the interlayer;   patterning an etch mask on the perpendicular magnetic recording layer;   performing an etching process to remove the portions of the perpendicular magnetic recording layer exposed by the etch mask to define discrete magnetic islands out of the perpendicular magnetic recording layer;   depositing refill material to fill spaces between the islands;   removing the etch mask; and   depositing an exchange bridge structure on the islands and the refill material;   wherein the exchange bridge structure is formed from magnetic material and connects the tops of the islands.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein depositing an exchange bridge structure comprises:
 depositing an exchange control layer of non-magnetic material on the islands and the refill material; and 
 depositing an exchange bridge layer of magnetic material on the exchange control layer. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the thickness of the exchange control layer controls the amount of exchange coupling between the exchange bridge layer and the islands.