Metal-Doped Capping Layer for Magnetic Recording Media
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing magnetic recording media face challenges in increasing areal density due to high grain-to-grain exchange coupling in capping layers, which can result in wider track-width and lower recording density.
Innovation Solution
A magnetic recording medium is developed with a capping layer doped with metals such as Ru or Ta, in a range of 1 to 5 atomic percent, to control grain-to-grain exchange coupling, thereby increasing the magnetic moment without widening the track-width.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the magnetic moment of the capping layer is increased to enhance areal density, then the grain-to-grain exchange coupling increases, but this results in wider track-width and lower recording density
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the capping layer by doping with Ru or Ta metals at specific concentrations (1-5 atomic percent). This parameter change allows the capping layer to maintain high magnetic moment while the dopant elements suppress excessive grain-to-grain exchange coupling, thereby preventing track-width widening and resolving the contradiction between enhancing areal density and controlling track-width precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite capping layer structure by combining Co-based magnetic materials with Ru or Ta dopant elements. This composite material approach allows the capping layer to simultaneously achieve high magnetic moment from the Co-based material and controlled exchange coupling from the Ru/Ta dopants, resolving the contradiction between increasing magnetic moment and maintaining track-width control
Data Source
AI summary
Various apparatuses, systems, methods, and media are disclosed to provide a magnetic recording medium that capping layer doped with an effective amount of metal to control grain-to-grain exchange coupling in a capping layer. A magnetic recording medium includes a substrate, a magnetic recording layer (MRL) on the substrate, and a capping layer on the MRL. The capping layer include Co and is doped with a metal (e.g., Ru or Ta) in a range from 1 atomic percent to 5 atomic percent, inclusive.