Co1-xCrx/Pt multilayers as perpendicular recording media

We have investigated Co1-xCrx/Pt multilayers as potential perpendicular med ia capable of high-density magnetic recording. The films exhibited strong p erpendicular anisotropy, coercivity values ranging from 0.3 to 6.9 kOe, and a range of coercive squareness (S*) from 0.21 to 0.96. Magnetic and atomic force microscopy were used to correlate the grain and magnetic domain stru ctures. The degree of intergranular exchange is clearly dependent on the de position temperature and, to a lesser extent, Cr content. Co1-xCrx/Pt multi layers are ferromagnetic at room temperature for x > 30%, which is not obse rved in thick Co1-xCrx films. Initial recording results determined a SONR r atio of 23 dB for a [Co(4 Angstrom)/Pt(5 Angstrom)](10) multilayer recorded at 10 kiloflux changes per millimeter using a standard longitudinal ring h ead. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-8979(00)46108-6].