Possibilities of Fe-Pt media for ultra-high density perpendicular magnetic recording

Perpendicular recording is fundamentally characterized by demagnetizing field free transitions. This principal feature is a great advantage not only for granular type media but also laterally exchange-coupled (LEC) film media with enhanced wall-pinning effects. Recently, it has been first reported that larger M/sub s/ and K/sub u/, high density pinning sites, and thinner recording layer of LEC film media are effective for coexistence of a larger hysteresis loop slope parameter, /spl alpha/, and a smaller domain size. Thus, higher recording and reproducing resolutions and lower media noise are expected to be realized by the media. Since an ordered Fe-Pt alloy of L1/sub 0/ phase satisfies the requirements for the LEC film media, we discuss the potential of thinner Fe-Pt film media for perpendicular magnetic recording.