Laminated media for high-density recording

The magnetic recording properties of laminated media structures on hard disks are discussed, including an overview of work on this topic. The primary performance advantage of laminated media is a significant reduction in media noise. The various mechanisms proposed for this noise reduction are considered. Other issues discussed include the optimal properties for the nonmagnetic interlayers, the influence of lamination on bulk magnetic properties, soft error rate measurements, and process challenges. The most important mechanism for the improved performance that has been obtained is decoupling of the noise sources in the various layers. The optimum interlayer thickness is in the range of 20-50 AA and seems to depend on the sputtering system and process conditions used.<>