Microstructural effects in computer simulations of the magnetic and recording properties of thin film media

The effects of microstructural disorder on the micromagnetic simulations of the magnetic properties of recording media are described. Techniques for t he generation of random structures are given in detail. We also outline som e of the techniques used for the current calculation of magnetostatic field s, which is especially difficult for disordered systems. Finally, we descri be the effects of microstructural disorder on the bulk magnetic properties and also introduce an overview of the effects of low coercivity grains whic h is an extreme form of disorder in the microstructure. (C) 1999 Elsevier S cience B.V. All rights reserved.