ELECTRON-ENERGY-LOSS SPECTROSCOPY STUDIES OF COCRTAPT CR THIN-FILMS FOR HIGH-DENSITY LONGITUDINAL MAGNETIC RECORDING MEDIA/

The effects of Ta content in CoCrTaPt thin films on the near-edge stru cture of Co and Cr L(2,3) absorption edges have been studied using par allel electron energy loss spectroscopy (PEELS). It was found that the addition of Ta decreased the 3d band occupancy in CoCrTaPt thin films . The addition of Ta was also observed to decrease the L(3)/L(2) white line intensity ratio, which showed a qualitative correlation with Cur ie temperature measurements. This result indicates a decrease in the f erromagnetic exchange interaction between neighboring Co atoms which m ay account for the low noise of CoCrTaPt thin film media.