High-density laser-assisted magnetic recording on TbFeCo media with an Al underlayer

Abstract

The effects of an Al underlayer with a nanoscaled rugged structure are studied on the laser-assisted magnetic recording of TbFeCo media. The performance of laser-assisted recording is dramatically improved by employing the Al underlayer. The reproducing signal is observed at the linear density of 450 kilo-flux change per inch. The relationship between the surface morphology and the magnetic properties of TbFeCo media proves that the nanoscaled rugged structure of Al underlayers influences the process of the magnetization reversal; in particular, the coercivity and the exchange interaction are significantly changed in the TbFeCo media. The authors conclude that the nanoscaled rugged structure of the Al underlayer leads to magnetic pinning sites, which impede the motion of a magnetic domain wall, and thereby the laser-assisted recording performance is improved.