THIN-FILM MEDIA WITH AND WITHOUT BICRYSTAL CLUSTER STRUCTURE ON GLASS-CERAMIC SUBSTRATES

The effect of bicrystal structure on media noise was studied experimen tally. Disk samples with and without bicrystal structures have been pr oduced on glass ceramic substrates using different Co/Cr epitaxial sys tems, (11(2) over bar 0)//(200) and (10(1) over bar 1)//(110). With si milar magnetic properties and grain size, the former sample with the b icrystal structure has 5 dB better signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), even t hough the delta M curve suggests that the sample with bicrystal struct ure has stronger intergranular exchange coupling. The interface betwee n NiP and Cr of the sample with bicrystals is rougher than that of the sample without bicrystals. It is suggested that the micro-roughness o f the interface between NiP and Cr could affect the formation of Cr(20 0) texture.