NANOSCALE DESIGN OF FILMS FOR EXTREMELY HIGH-DENSITY MAGNETIC RECORDING

This paper presents results on the growth and properties of nanocrysta lline magnetic films with high anisotropy and thus relatively high coe rcivity. Such films have applications in several information technolog ies and this paper emphasizes future magnetic recording media at extre mely high areal density (above about 10 giga bits per square inch). El ementary models of magnetization reversal, thermal stability, and nois e are discussed, as well as measurements of activation volumes and der ived magnetic cluster dimensions. Finally, recent measurements are dis cussed on novel nanostructured films with high potential for future hi gh-density recording media.