Magnetic recording medium

Abstract

The present invention provides a magnetic recording medium that excels in electromagnetic conversion characteristics. The magnetic recording medium has a 55 nm or less thickness magnetic layer formed on a major surface of an elongated nonmagnetic support by performing a vacuum thin film forming technique, the magnetic recording medium being slid over a magnetoresistive effect magnetic head or a giant magnetoresistive effect head to reproduce a signal, wherein an angle θ which is formed by a growth direction of magnetic particles in a columnar structure in a longitudinal cross-section of the magnetic layer and a normal to a longitudinal direction of the nonmagnetic support, satisfies the following relation: θ i−θf≦ 25°. where θi is an angle of θ in an initial growth portion of the magnetic layer, and ↓f is an angle of θ in a final growth portion of the magnetic layer.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A magnetic recording medium having a 55 nm or less thickness magnetic layer formed on a major surface of an elongated nonmagnetic support by performing a vacuum thin film forming technique, said magnetic recording medium being slid over a magnetoresistive effect magnetic head or a giant magnetoresistive effect head to reproduce a signal, 
 wherein an angle θ which is formed by a growth direction of magnetic particles in a columnar structure in a longitudinal cross-section of said magnetic layer and a normal to a longitudinal direction of said nonmagnetic support, satisfies the following relation:      θi−θf≦ 25°.    where θi is an angle of θ in an initial growth portion of said magnetic layer, and θf is an angle of θ in a final growth portion of said magnetic layer.