Growth characteristics of double-layer perpendicular media

Double-layer CoCr on Permalloy films for perpendicular recording were prepared by deposition using an in-line DC magnetron sputtering system. The crystalline growth and magnetic properties of the Permalloy and how it influences the growth and properties of the CoCr are studied. Evidence is given for epitaxial growth of CoCr on Permalloy. Angle-of-incidence effects are discussed and a simple theory combining crystallographic canting and absorption effects is evoked to help explain them.