Perpendicular magnetic recording medium and apparatus including a soft magnetic layer, an at least 20 nm thick non-magnetic layer, and a 50-90 nm gap length

摘要

In accordance with the present invention, in a magnetic recording medium for perpendicular magnetic recording, a recording characteristic which is not inferior to that of double-layer medium and a resolution of reproduction which is not inferior to that of single layer medium are provided. On a non-magnetic substrate, a soft magnetic layer for increasing a perpendicular component of recording magnetic field in a perpendicular magnetic recording layer is formed. A non-magnetic layer for suppressing extension of signal magnetic field loop from recording magnetization in the perpendicular magnetic recording layer is formed on the soft magnetic layer. The perpendicular magnetic recording layer is formed on the non-magnetic layer. The non-magnetic layer has a thickness required to effectively reduce the signal magnetic field loop. The required thickness exceeds 20 nm.