Effect of chromium underlayer thickness on recording characteristics of CoCrTa longitudinal recording media

The bulk magnetic properties of the experimental disks were controlled in an attempt to isolate effects due to differences of underlayer morphology and crystallographic properties. In a comparison of films with similar bulk magnetic properties, recording performance advantages were observed for the films fabricated on thin chromium underlayers. Transition lengths were observed that are somewhat narrower than expected from a recording model based solely on bulk magnetic properties. Lower noise at the chosen recording density was also observed. It is hypothesized that the mechanism through which this transition length reduction occurs is associated with the greater cooperative switching behavior that is characteristic of the films prepared on thin Cr underlayers.<
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