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.

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 protective layer is positioned above the magnetic layer, the protective layer including a second material. A magnetic recording medium according to another 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.

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 protective layer is positioned above the magnetic layer, the protective layer including a second material. A magnetic recording medium according to another 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.

A magnetic recording medium includes a substrate, an underlayer provided on the substrate, and a magnetic layer provided on the underlayer and having a L1.sub.0 structure and a (001) orientation. The magnetic layer has a granular structure in which an organic compound having a methylene skeleton or a methine skeleton is arranged at grain boundaries of magnetic grains.

A magnetic recording medium includes a substrate, an underlayer provided on the substrate, and a magnetic layer provided on the underlayer and having a L1.sub.0 structure and a (001) orientation. The magnetic layer has a granular structure in which an organic compound having a methylene skeleton or a methine skeleton is arranged at grain boundaries of magnetic grains.

Provided is a glass for a magnetic recording medium substrate or for a glass spacer for a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus, in which the total content of Li.sub.2O, Na.sub.2O, K.sub.2O, B.sub.2O.sub.3, and ZnO (Li.sub.2O+Na.sub.2O+K.sub.2O+B.sub.2O.sub.3+ZnO) is in a range of 0 mol % or more and 3 mol % or less, the mole ratio of the total content of Al.sub.2O.sub.3 and MgO relative to the total content of SiO.sub.2 and CaO [(Al.sub.2O.sub.3+MgO)/(SiO.sub.2+CaO)] is in a range of 0.30 or more and 0.6 or less, the total content of SiO.sub.2 and Al.sub.2O.sub.3 (SiO.sub.2+Al.sub.2O.sub.3) is in a range of 64 mol % or more and 85 mol % or less, and the total content of SiO.sub.2, Al.sub.2O.sub.3, MgO, and CaO (SiO.sub.2+Al.sub.2O.sub.3+MgO+CaO) is in a range of 87 mol % or more and 98 mol % or less.

Provided is a glass for a magnetic recording medium substrate or for a glass spacer for a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus, in which the total content of Li.sub.2O, Na.sub.2O, K.sub.2O, B.sub.2O.sub.3, and ZnO (Li.sub.2O+Na.sub.2O+K.sub.2O+B.sub.2O.sub.3+ZnO) is in a range of 0 mol % or more and 3 mol % or less, the mole ratio of the total content of Al.sub.2O.sub.3 and MgO relative to the total content of SiO.sub.2 and CaO [(Al.sub.2O.sub.3+MgO)/(SiO.sub.2+CaO)] is in a range of 0.30 or more and 0.6 or less, the total content of SiO.sub.2 and Al.sub.2O.sub.3 (SiO.sub.2+Al.sub.2O.sub.3) is in a range of 64 mol % or more and 85 mol % or less, and the total content of SiO.sub.2, Al.sub.2O.sub.3, MgO, and CaO (SiO.sub.2+Al.sub.2O.sub.3+MgO+CaO) is in a range of 87 mol % or more and 98 mol % or less.

A stack includes a heatsink layer, a magnetic recording layer disposed over the heatsink layer, and a Si-based overcoat layer disposed over the magnetic recording layer. The Si-based overcoat layer is substantially devoid of carbon.

A stack includes a heatsink layer, a magnetic recording layer disposed over the heatsink layer, and a Si-based overcoat layer disposed over the magnetic recording layer. The Si-based overcoat layer is substantially devoid of carbon.

Provided are a magnetic recording medium, in which a magnetic layer includes ferromagnetic hexagonal ferrite powder, a binding agent, and an oxide abrasive, an intensity ratio Int(110)/Int(114) obtained by an X-ray diffraction analysis of the magnetic layer by using an In-Plane method is 0.5 to 4.0, a vertical squareness ratio of the magnetic recording medium is 0.65 to 1.00, a coefficient of friction measured regarding a base portion of a surface of the magnetic layer is equal to or smaller than 0.30, and an average particle diameter of the oxide abrasive obtained from a secondary ion image obtained by irradiating the surface of the magnetic layer with a focused ion beam is 0.04 m to 0.08 m, and a magnetic recording and reproducing device including this magnetic recording medium.