Magnetization process and thermal stability in longitudinal magnetic recording media with a stabilizing layer

The thermal stability in an exchange coupled CoPtCrB trilayer structure medium (TL) is discussed and compared to that for the corresponding single layer (SL) medium. The time dependence of magnetization shows a nonlinear behavior. The magnetization decay rate is found to be reduced in TL when the applied field is close to the coercivity. The DC demagnetization (DCD) reversal mechanisms are investigated by magnetic force microscopy. It is observed that for the reversed field close to remanent coercivity of the TL and SL, very coarse magnetic structures appear.