Multilayer CoCrTa thin film media with Cr or Ag interlayers

The magnetic properties and recording performance of multilayer CoCrTa thin film media with Cr or Ag interlayers are investigated. It is found that the coercivities and coercivity squareness of the films with Ag interlayers could be higher than that of the films with Cr interlayers. Recording tests show that the disks with Ag interlayers are noisier than the disks without an interlayer and the disks with a Cr interlayer. It is proposed that the increase in media noise when Ag was used as an interlayer is due to the RKKY coupling among magnetic grains through Ag.