(200) Oriented Cu Heatsink for HAMR Thermal Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
In heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) systems, achieving high thermal stability and efficient heat management is challenging due to the need for high magnetic anisotropy materials, which require precise control of heat profiles and cooling rates, and existing heatsink layers often grow in suboptimal orientations with high roughness, affecting the magnetic recording layer's orientation and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The development of (200) oriented Cu or CuX heatsink layers, which provide suitable thermal conductivity and serve as an orientation template for subsequent magnetic recording layers, formed by growing a copper nitride layer and releasing nitrogen to maintain the (200) orientation and low roughness, while enhancing thermal conductivity and reducing interdiffusion with the magnetic recording layer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional heatsink layers are used, then thermal conductivity is provided, but the layers grow in suboptimal orientations with high roughness affecting magnetic recording layer orientation
Solution Approach 1:
A CuCrTa interlayer is introduced between the heatsink layer and the magnetic recording layer to serve as an orientation template. This interlayer mediates the orientation relationship, allowing the heatsink layer to grow in the desired (200) orientation while providing a controlled interface for the magnetic recording layer, thereby resolving the contradiction between thermal conductivity and orientation control
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the crystallographic orientation parameter of the heatsink layer from conventional orientations to (200) orientation by controlling the growth conditions and using the CuCrTa interlayer as a template. This parameter change improves both the thermal management efficiency and the orientation control for subsequent magnetic recording layers
2Reliability
If high magnetic anisotropy materials are used, then thermal stability is improved, but precise control of heat profiles and cooling rates becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal management function is segmented into multiple layers with distinct roles: the heatsink layer provides high thermal conductivity for rapid heat dissipation, while the CuCrTa interlayer provides thermal isolation and orientation control. This segmentation allows precise control of heat profiles by managing heat flow through different thermal pathways in different layers
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the structure are assigned different thermal properties: the heatsink layer has high thermal conductivity for rapid cooling, while the interlayer provides localized thermal isolation. This local quality differentiation enables precise control of heat profiles and cooling rates in different spatial regions, resolving the complexity of heat management
3Speed
If heatsink layers are used to improve cooling rates, then thermal management is enhanced, but interdiffusion with magnetic recording layer occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The CuCrTa interlayer serves as a diffusion barrier between the heatsink layer and the magnetic recording layer. It prevents interdiffusion of atoms between these layers while maintaining the thermal management function, thus resolving the contradiction between rapid cooling and compositional stability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite structure consisting of the heatsink layer, CuCrTa interlayer, and magnetic recording layer. The CuCrTa interlayer provides both diffusion barrier functionality and orientation template functionality, enabling the composite structure to achieve rapid cooling rates while preventing unwanted interdiffusion
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The (200) oriented Cu or CuX heatsink layers improve the thermal management and orientation of magnetic recording layers, increasing thermal stability and reducing roughness, thereby enhancing the reliability and efficiency of HAMR systems by facilitating better heat confinement and faster cooling rates.
Implementation Method 1
heatsink layer comprising (200) Cu or (200) CuX... provide suitable thermal conductivity... enhancing the reliability and efficiency of HAMR systems by facilitating better heat confinement and faster cooling rates
Implementation Method 2
Energy assistance in the form of laser light can be applied to locally heat the magnetic material to lower the magnetic anisotropy of the medium, thus allowing the writing of data by the magnetic writing field
Implementation Method 3
formed by growing a copper nitride layer and releasing nitrogen to maintain the (200) orientation and low roughness
Data Source
AI summary
A magnetic stack includes a heatsink layer comprising (200) Cu or (200) CuX, a magnetic recording layer, and an interlayer disposed between the heatsink layer and the magnetic recording layer.