Perpendicular magnetic recording medium, method of manufacturing the same, and magnetic recording/reproduction apparatus

Abstract

A perpendicular magnetic recording medium according to an embodiment includes a substrate and perpendicular magnetic recording layer. The perpendicular magnetic recording layer includes a recording portion and non-recording portion. The recording portion has patterns regularly arranged in the longitudinal direction, and includes magnetic layers containing Fe or Co and Pt as main components, and at least one additive component selected from Ti, Si, Al, and W. The non-recording portion includes oxide layers formed by oxidizing the side surfaces of the magnetic layers, and nonmagnetic layers formed between the oxide layers.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A perpendicular magnetic recording medium comprising:
 a substrate; and   a perpendicular magnetic recording layer on the substrate, the perpendicular magnetic recording layer comprising a recording portion and a non-recording portion, the recording portion comprising patterns regularly arranged in a longitudinal direction and magnetic layers comprising a main component of platinum and one of iron and cobalt and at least one additive component of titanium, silicon, aluminum, and tungsten, the non-recording portion comprising oxide layers and nonmagnetic layers between the oxide layers, the oxide layers comprising oxidized side surfaces of the magnetic layers.   
     
     
         2 . The medium of  claim 1 , wherein the nonmagnetic layers comprise carbon, titanium, SiO 2 , or TiO 2 . 
     
     
         3 . The medium of  claim 1 , wherein the oxide layers comprise an oxide of the additive component. 
     
     
         4 . The medium of  claim 3 , wherein the additive component comprises titanium, and the oxide comprises a titanium oxide. 
     
     
         5 . The medium of  claim 1 , wherein a content of the additive component comprises 5 to 20 at % of a composition of the recording portion. 
     
     
         6 . A perpendicular magnetic recording medium manufacturing method comprising:
 forming a mask layer and a magnetic layer, the mask layer comprising projections having regularly arranged patterns, the mask layer on a surface of an unprocessed perpendicular magnetic recording medium comprising a substrate, the magnetic layer comprising a main component of platinum and one of iron and cobalt and at least one additive component of titanium, silicon, aluminum, and tungsten;   forming a protective layer and the magnetic layer comprising regularly arranged patterns by performing etching through the mask layer;   forming oxide layers by oxidizing side surfaces of the magnetic layer;   removing the mask layer; and   performing planarization by forming nonmagnetic layers between the oxide layers.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the nonmagnetic layers comprise carbon, titanium, SiO 2 , or TiO 2 . 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the oxide layers comprise an oxide of the additive component. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the additive component comprises titanium, and the oxide comprises a titanium oxide. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein a content of the additive component comprises 5 to 20 at % of a composition of the recording portion. 
     
     
         11 . A magnetic recording or reproduction apparatus comprising:
 a perpendicular magnetic recording medium comprising a substrate, a perpendicular magnetic recording layer on the substrate and comprising a recording portion and a non-recording portion, the recording portion comprising patterns regularly arranged in a longitudinal direction and magnetic layers comprising a main component of platinum and one of iron and cobalt and at least one additive component of titanium, silicon, aluminum, and tungsten, the non-recording portion comprising oxide layers and nonmagnetic layers formed between the oxide layers, the oxide layers comprising oxidized side surfaces of the magnetic layers;   a mechanism configured to support and rotate the perpendicular magnetic recording medium;   a magnetic head comprising a first element to record information on the perpendicular magnetic recording medium and a second element to reproduce recorded information; and   a carriage assembly configured to support the magnetic head such that the magnetic head freely moves relative to the perpendicular magnetic recording medium.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the nonmagnetic layers comprise carbon, titanium, SiO 2 , or TiO 2 . 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the oxide layers comprise an oxide of the additive component. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the additive component comprises titanium, and the oxide comprises a titanium oxide. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein a content of the additive component comprises 5 to 20 at % of a composition of the recording portion.