FePt Magnetic Recording Media: Problems and Possibilities for Practical Use

FePt with ordered L10 structure is a promising material for high-density magnetic recording media because the material has high magnetic anisotropy energy. The film is considered to show excellent thermal stability. However, the practical use of FePt media is hindered by several problems that must be solved, i.e. decrease of ordering temperature, realization of films with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, reduction of media noise, and development of writing methods of bits on high-coercive-force media. Among these problems, the former two problems are being resolved, but the problems associated with reducing media noise and developing writing methods still remain unsolved. It is expected that these problems will be solved by introducing new ideas or methods. Hereafter it will be important to form double-layer perpendicular magnetic recording media and to estimate the read and write characteristics of the media