Magnetic recording media including an interlayer configured to reduce lattice mismatch with adjacent layers of the media, such as an adjacent seed layer or an adjacent underlayer. In one example, an interlayer alloy is provided that includes tungsten (W) along with Cobalt (Co), Chromium (Cr), and Ruthenium (Ru). The atomic percentages of W and Ru within the interlayer are selected so that the amount lattice mismatch between the interlayer and its adjacent layers is below a preselected amount, such as below 3% as quantified by d-spacing. In some examples, the atomic percentage of Ru is greater than 25% and the atomic percentage of W is 2-10%. Methods of fabricating the magnetic recording media are also provided.

Large magnetic moment compositions are formed by stabilizing ternary or other alloys with a epitaxial control layer. Compositions that are unstable in bulk specimen are thus stabilized and exhibit magnetic moments that are greater that a Slater-Pauling limit. In one example, Fe.sub.xCo.sub.yMn.sub.z layers are produced on an MgO(001) substrate with an MgO surface serving to control the structure of the Fe.sub.xCo.sub.yMn.sub.z layers. Magnetizations greater than 3 Bohr magnetons are produced.

A magnetic recording medium is provided and includes a layer structure including a magnetic layer, a non-magnetic layer, and a base layer in this order, in which an average thickness t.sub.T of the magnetic recording medium is 3.5 μm≤t.sub.T≤5.3 μm, a dimensional variation Δw in a width direction of the magnetic recording medium to tension change in a longitudinal direction of the magnetic recording medium is 700 ppm/N≤Δw≤2000 ppm/N, and an average thickness t.sub.n of the non-magnetic layer is t.sub.n≤1.0 μm.

A film-forming apparatus and a method for manufacturing a magnetic recording medium are provided. The film-forming apparatus includes a rotating body which moves a base material with a strip shape which has flexibility, a plurality of cathodes which are provided to oppose a rotating surface of the rotating body; and a plurality of accommodating sections which accommodate each of the plurality of cathodes. The method includes sequentially film-forming a plurality of thin films on a base material using a plurality of cathodes which are provided on a moving path of the base material while moving the base material with a strip shape which has flexibility. Each of the plurality of cathodes is accommodated in a plurality of accommodating sections.

A magnetic recording medium is provided and includes a layer structure including a magnetic layer, a non-magnetic layer, and a base layer in order, in which an average thickness t.sub.T of the magnetic recording medium is 4.0 μm≤t.sub.T≤5.3 μm, a dimensional variation Δw in a width direction of the magnetic recording medium to tension change in a longitudinal direction of the magnetic recording medium is 680 ppm/N≤Δw≤2000 ppm/N, and an average thickness t.sub.n of the non-magnetic layer is t.sub.n≤1.0 μm.

A magnetic recording medium includes a substrate, and a magnetic recording layer including magnetic grains having an L1.sub.0 structure. The magnetic recording layer is (001) oriented, and a surface of growth of the magnetic recording layer includes a (001) plane, a (111) plane, and planes equivalent to the (111) plane. An area ratio of the (111) plane and the planes equivalent to the (111) plane, represented by (A.sub.111+A.sub.111e)/(A.sub.001+A.sub.111+A.sub.111e), is in a range of 0.2 to 0.7, where A.sub.111 denotes an area of the (111) plane, A.sub.111e denotes an area of the planes equivalent to the (111) plane, and A.sub.001 denotes an area of the (001) plane.

To provide a magnetic recording tape and the like that have excellent magnetic properties and exhibit a favorable SNR. There are provided a magnetic recording tape and the like including at least: a base layer that includes a long film having flexibility; and a magnetic layer formed on a side of one main surface of the base layer, in which an under layer and a seed layer are provided in the stated order from a side of the magnetic layer toward a side of the base layer between the magnetic layer and the base layer, the underlayer contains at least Co and Cr, and has an average atomic number ratio represented by the following formula (1): Co.sub.(100-y)Cr.sub.y (where y is within a range of 37≤y≤45.), and the seed layer formed directly on the base layer has a film thickness of 5 nm or more and 30 nm or less, and contains Ti and O and has an average atomic number ratio represented by the following formula (2): Ti.sub.(100-x)O.sub.x (where x≤10.) or contains Ti—Cr—O and has an average atomic number ratio represented by the following formula (3): (TiCr).sub.(100-x)O.sub.x (where x≤10.).

A sputtering target for a magnetic recording medium, comprises: a metal phase containing Pt and at least one or more selected from Mn and V, with the balance being Co and incidental impurities; and an oxide phase containing at least B and O.

A magnetic recording medium is provided and includes a layer structure including a magnetic layer, a non-magnetic layer, and a base layer in order, in which an average thickness t.sub.T of the magnetic recording medium is 4.0 μm≤t.sub.T≤5.3 μm, a dimensional variation Δw in a width direction of the magnetic recording medium to tension change in a longitudinal direction of the magnetic recording medium is 680 ppm/N≤Δw≤2000 ppm/N , and an average thickness t.sub.n of the non-magnetic layer is t.sub.n≤1.0 μm.

Magnetic recording media including an interlayer configured to reduce lattice mismatch with adjacent layers of the media, such as an adjacent seed layer or an adjacent underlayer. In one example, an interlayer alloy is provided that includes tungsten (W) along with Cobalt (Co), Chromium (Cr), and Ruthenium (Ru). The atomic percentages of W and Ru within the interlayer are selected so that the amount lattice mismatch between the interlayer and its adjacent layers is below a preselected amount, such as below 3% as quantified by d-spacing. In some examples, the atomic percentage of Ru is greater than 25% and the atomic percentage of W is 2-10%. Methods of fabricating the magnetic recording media are also provided.