Magnetic recording medium, magnetic recording apparatus using the same, and method and apparatus for manufacturing the magnetic recording medium

Abstract

A magnetic recording apparatus provides improved resolution and S/N without adversely affecting thermal stability. An angle formed by the direction of easy magnetization of a recording layer and the direction normal to a magnetic recording medium is in the range between 5° and 55°, the easy magnetization direction is from a back surface of the recording layer toward a front surface thereof, and when a recording track direction is from the upstream of the direction of transportation of the medium toward the downstream thereof, an angle formed by the direction of a projection of the easy magnetization direction on the medium plane and the recording track direction is in the range between 0° and 70°.

1 . A method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium, the method comprising the steps of: 
 forming a nanoparticle layer by disposing nanoparticles on a substrate, the nanoparticles comprising alloy particles containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Ni, Mn, Sm, Pt, and Pd, wherein the alloy particles are coated with an organic compound;    irradiating the nanoparticle layer with infrared light to produce magnetic nanoparticles;    applying a magnetic field to the nanoparticle layer to control the magnetization direction of the magnetic nanoparticles in substantially one direction; and    irradiating the nanoparticle layer with ultraviolet light to cross-link the organic compound, wherein    the angle formed by the direction of the magnetic field applied in the magnetic field applying step and the direction normal to the substrate is not less than 5° and not more than 60°.    
   
   
       2 . A magnetic recording medium manufacturing apparatus comprising: 
 means for irradiating a nanoparticle layer disposed on a substrate with infrared light to produce magnetic nanoparticles, the nanoparticles comprising alloy particles containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Ni, Mn, Sm, PT AND Pd, wherein the alloy particles are coated with an organic compound;    means for applying a parallel magnetic field to the nanoparticle layer, the magnetic field forming an angle of not less than 5° and not more than 60° with the direction normal to the substrate in order to control the direction of magnetization of the magnetic particles in substantially one direction;    means for applying ultraviolet light to the nanoparticle layer to cross-link the organic compound; and    means for shifting the position of irradiation of the infrared light and ultraviolet light on the substrate.    
   
   
       3 . A magnetic recording apparatus comprising: 
 a magnetic recording medium;    a single pole type (SPT) head;    a slider on which the SPT head is mounted;    a suspension arm for securely fastening the slider; and    an actuator for supporting the suspension arm;    wherein the magnetic recording medium comprises at least a soft magnetic underlayer and a recording layer, and    wherein the angle formed by the easy magnetization direction of the recording layer and the direction normal to the medium is not less than 15° and not more than 55°.    
   
   
       4 . The magnetic recording apparatus according to  claim 3 , 
 wherein the SPT head can be transported to an arbitrary position on the recording medium by the movement of the actuator where it can record information.    
   
   
       5 . The magnetic recording apparatus according to  claim 3 , 
 wherein the SPT head comprises at least:    a main pole, an auxiliary pole and a shield disposed downstream of the direction of transportation of the medium with respect to the main pole and having a wider width than the main pole.    
   
   
       6 . A magnetic recording apparatus comprising: 
 a magnetic recording medium;    a single pole type (SPT) head;    a slider on which the SPT head is mounted;    a suspension arm for securely fastening the slider; and    an actuator for supporting the suspension arm,    wherein the magnetic recording medium comprises at least a soft magnetic underlayer and a recording layer,    wherein when the easy magnetization direction of the recording layer is from a back surface of the recording layer toward a front surface thereof and when the direction of recording tracks is from the upstream of the direction of transportation of the medium toward the downstream thereof, the direction of a projection of the easy magnetization direction on the medium plane substantially coincides with the recording track direction.    
   
   
       7 . The magnetic recording apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the angle formed by the easy magnetization direction of the recording layer and the direction normal to the medium is not less 15° and not more than 55°.