MEASUREMENT OF TEXTURE IN MAGNETIC RECORDING MEDIA USING A BIAXIAL VIBRATING SAMPLE MAGNETOMETER

A method is described for the determination of the three dimensional e asy axis distribution in recording media using a biaxial vibrating sam ple magnetometer and compensation for out-of-plane demagnetization fie ld effects. Comparison of Lorentzian function fits to the data and mea surement of orientation ratio with theoretical calculations indicates that the method gives a reasonable measure of the easy axis distributi on. Examination of the theoretical relationship indicates that low val ues of orientation ratio are insensitive to distribution width indicat ing that it is necessary to make a full measure of easy axis distribut ion in-plane. However, out-of-plane distributions are generally narrow er and it is often possible to estimate distribution width from a simp le orientation ratio measurement. (C) 1996 American Institute of Physi cs.