FABRICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF THIN-FILMS WITH PERPENDICULAR MAGNETIC-ANISOTROPY FOR HIGH-DENSITY MAGNETIC RECORDING .2. A REVIEW

Perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) was first observed in thin films of cobalt-chromium alloys in 1974, and perpendicular magnetic recording was proposed in 1977. After less than ten years, a new technology for high-density magnetic recording is firmly established. This breakthrough of the science and technology of magnetic recording has been made possible mainly through the ingenuity and concerted efforts of Iwasaki and other researchers. The preparation, characterization, and application of the Co-Cr films featuring PMA have been extensively studied. This paper reviews the large number of reports on PMA films with emphasis in three areas: (1) processing of PMA films; (2) correlation of magnetic properties and microstructures of PMA films; and (3) state-of-the-art techniques for fabricating PMA films.