An anti-reflection storage medium. The anti-reflection storage medium includes a storage layer and a protective overcoat disposed over the storage later. The protective overcoat has a first refractive index value that is matched to a second refractive index value of the storage layer to reduce reflection of incident light applied to the storage medium when data is written to the storage layer of the storage medium.

Systems and methods for coating a near field transducer in a dielectric material are described. In one embodiment, the method may include forming a liquid solution comprising at least a first dielectric and a disk surface lubricant, forming a coating of the liquid solution on an outer surface of a storage medium based at least in part on dipping the storage medium in the liquid solution, and accumulating a first set of molecules of the first dielectric on a near field transducer (NFT) of a HAMR head based at least in part on evaporating a first portion of the first dielectric in the coating by performing a first HAMR writing operation that shines a laser on the coating.

A product, according to one embodiment, includes: a tape spool having: a first flange, a second flange, and a circular hub sandwiched between the first and second flanges. The tape spool also includes a cylindrical compliance layer which encircles the hub. The compliance layer is configured to dampen radial stress exerted on the hub by a tape wound around the hub. A product, according to another embodiment, includes: a tape cartridge having: an outer housing, and a tape spool positioned within the outer housing. The tape spool further includes: a first flange, a circular hub coupled to the first flange, and a cylindrical compliance layer which encircles the hub. A magnetic tape is also wrapped around the compliance layer and the hub. Moreover, the compliance layer is configured to dampen radial stress exerted on inner wraps of the magnetic tape.

A lubricant adheres to a magnetic recording medium via at least one of chemisorption or bonding, and contains a perfluorinated polyether attached to or terminated with a functional group that is phosphonic acid, silanol or carboxylic acid, and may be:

R.sub.1R.sub.fR.sub.1 where R.sub.f is CF.sub.2O(CF.sub.2CF.sub.2CF.sub.2CF.sub.2O).sub.n, CF.sub.2O(CF.sub.2CF.sub.2CF.sub.2O).sub.nCF.sub.2, CF.sub.2O[CF(CF.sub.3)CF.sub.2O].sub.nCF.sub.2, CF.sub.2O(CF.sub.2CF.sub.2O).sub.m(CF.sub.2O).sub.nCF.sub.2, CF.sub.2O(CF.sub.2CF.sub.2O).sub.nCF.sub.2, n, m is from 1 to 100 and R.sub.1 is the functional group. A lubricant is formed from a multiple ether segments according to formula:

Re.sup.1Rb.sup.1-Ri-Rc-Ri-Rb.sup.2Re.sup.2; where Rc includes perfluoroalkyl ether, Rb.sup.1 and Rb.sup.2 are, independently, a sidechain segment including a perfluoroalkyl ether, optional Ri independently is a divalent linking segment including a functional group including elements from periodic table Group 13-17, and of Re.sup.1 and Re.sup.2 are phosphonic acid, silanol or carboxylic acid. Lubricant synthesis includes reacting a perfluorinated polyether with a halogenated functional group, selected from phosphonic acid, silanol or carboxylic acid.

A magnetic recording medium according to one embodiment includes an underlayer and a magnetic layer above the underlayer. The magnetic layer includes a first magnetic material and particulates. A solid protective layer is positioned above the magnetic layer, the protective layer including a second material. At least some of the particulates of the magnetic layer protrude completely through the protective layer. A method for forming a magnetic recording medium according to one embodiment includes forming a magnetic layer above a substrate, the magnetic layer including a first magnetic material and particulates, and forming a solid protective layer above the magnetic layer to a thickness whereby some of the particulates protrude through the protective layer and are exposed along an upper surface of the protective layer.

A magnetic recording medium according to one embodiment includes an underlayer and a magnetic layer above the underlayer. The magnetic layer includes a first magnetic material and particulates. A solid protective layer is positioned above the magnetic layer, the protective layer including a second material. At least some of the particulates of the magnetic layer protrude completely through the protective layer. A method for forming a magnetic recording medium according to one embodiment includes forming a magnetic layer above a substrate, the magnetic layer including a first magnetic material and particulates, and forming a solid protective layer above the magnetic layer to a thickness whereby some of the particulates protrude through the protective layer and are exposed along an upper surface of the protective layer.

A magnetic tape includes a non-magnetic support; a magnetic layer including ferromagnetic powder and a binding agent on one surface side of the non-magnetic support; and a back coating layer including non-magnetic powder and a binding agent on the other surface side of the non-magnetic support. The thickness of the back coating layer is less than or equal to 0.30 m. The logarithmic decrement acquired by a pendulum viscoelasticity test performed regarding the surface of the back coating layer is less than or equal to 0.060. Further, the contact angle with respect to 1-bromonaphthalene measured regarding the surface of the back coating layer is 15.0 to 30.0.

A method for forming a magnetic recording medium according to one embodiment includes forming a magnetic layer above an underlayer. The magnetic layer includes a first magnetic material and particulates. A protective layer is formed above the magnetic layer, the protective layer including a second material. A method for forming a magnetic recording medium according to another embodiment includes forming a first nonmagnetic layer above a base film. The first nonmagnetic layer has first nonmagnetic particles. A second nonmagnetic layer is formed above the first nonmagnetic layer, the second nonmagnetic layer having second nonmagnetic particles. A magnetic layer is formed above the second nonmagnetic layer, the magnetic layer including a magnetic material.

A method for forming a magnetic recording medium according to one embodiment includes forming a magnetic layer above an underlayer. The magnetic layer includes a first magnetic material and particulates. A protective layer is formed above the magnetic layer, the protective layer including a second material. A method for forming a magnetic recording medium according to another embodiment includes forming a first nonmagnetic layer above a base film. The first nonmagnetic layer has first nonmagnetic particles. A second nonmagnetic layer is formed above the first nonmagnetic layer, the second nonmagnetic layer having second nonmagnetic particles. A magnetic layer is formed above the second nonmagnetic layer, the magnetic layer including a magnetic material.

A magnetic recording medium according to one embodiment includes a base film and a first nonmagnetic layer above the base film. The first nonmagnetic layer has first nonmagnetic particles. A second nonmagnetic layer is positioned above the first nonmagnetic layer, the second nonmagnetic layer having second nonmagnetic particles. A magnetic layer is positioned above the second nonmagnetic layer, the magnetic layer including a magnetic material.