SmCo{sub}5 has the highest uniaxial magnetocrystalline anisotropy (Ku) of all the materials yet known. The recording performance of longitudinal Sm-Co thin films have been demonstrated [1]. It is only until recently that the films have been successfully prepared with c-axis perpendicular to the film plane orientation [2-4], make it possible for application in perpendicular magnetic recording medium. However, almost all the papers in the literature Cu layer with the thickness of about 200nm has been used to achieve perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. Such thick underlayer is not suitable for perpendicular magnetic recording considering the writing head performance, when the medium with soft magnetic under layer (SUL). Furthermore, the Sm-Co film thickness in the previous study is about 40nm. The films thickness has to be reduced from the practical recording application point of view.
展开▼
