HIGH COERCIVITY CO-MN MODIFIED GAMMA-FE2O3 THIN-FILMS FOR HIGH-DENSITY RECORDING

(Co,Mn) modified gamma-Fe2O3 thin films with an in-plane coercivity of 2200 to 4000 Oe, a saturation magnetization of 150 to 310 emu/cm(3), and a squareness ratio of 0.6 to 0.83 were prepared by DC-reactive mag netron sputtering. The films were deposited onto Si(100) and Corning # 7059 glass substrates in an O-2/Ar atmosphere by using alloy composite targets. Composition adjustment, reduction-oxidation and postannealin g treatments were found to affect coercivity as well as other magnetic properties in different extents. Owing to their sound magnetic perfor mance, these films are promising for applications in high density magn etic recording.