Magnetic recording media with improved grain columnar growth for energy assisted magnetic recording

Abstract

Systems and methods for forming magnetic recording media with improved columnar growth for energy assisted magnetic recording are provided. In one such method, a first sub-layer of a magnetic layer is formed on a substrate, the magnetic layer including a magnetic material and a plurality of non-magnetic segregants, a top surface of the first sub-layer is etched to substantially remove the non-magnetic segregants accumulated on the top surface, and a second sub-layer of the magnetic layer is formed on the first sub-layer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A magnetic recording medium comprising:
 a substrate; and   a magnetic recording layer on the substrate, comprising a magnetic material and a plurality of non-magnetic segregants, the magnetic material comprising a plurality of grains having substantially continuous columnar crystal growth,   wherein the magnetic recording layer has a thickness of t and a diameter of the plurality of grains is D, and a ratio of t/D is greater than 1.   
     
     
         2 . The magnetic recording medium of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Ni, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The magnetic recording medium of  claim 2 , wherein the magnetic material comprises FePt, and the magnetic recording layer has a thickness greater than 7 nm. 
     
     
         4 . The magnetic recording medium of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of non-magnetic segregants comprise a material selected from the group consisting of C, Cr, B, SiO 2 , TiO 2 , Cr 2 O 3 , Ag, BN, V 2 O 5 , ZrO 2 , Nb 2 O 5 , HfO 2 , Ta 2 O 5 , WO 3 , MgO, B 2 O 3 , ZnO, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The magnetic recording medium of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic material has grain sizes between about 4 nm and about 9 nm in diameter, inclusive. 
     
     
         6 . The magnetic recording medium of  claim 5 , wherein the magnetic material has grain sizes between about 5 nm and about 6 nm in diameter, inclusive. 
     
     
         7 . The magnetic recording medium of  claim 1 , further comprising, between the magnetic recording layer and the substrate, an adhesion layer on the substrate, a heat sink layer on the adhesion layer, and an under-layer on the adhesion layer.