Heat-assisted magnetic recording medium and magnetic storage apparatus

Abstract

A heat-assisted magnetic recording medium includes: a substrate; an underlayer; and a magnetic layer including an alloy having an L1.sub.0 structure. The substrate, the underlayer, and the magnetic layer are stacked in the recited order. The underlayer includes a first underlayer. The first underlayer includes magnesium oxide and one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of vanadium oxide, zinc oxide, tin oxide, vanadium nitride, and vanadium carbide, and a total content of the one or more compounds is in a range of 45 mol % to 70 mol %.

Claims

1. A heat-assisted magnetic recording medium comprising: a substrate; an underlayer; and a magnetic layer including an alloy having an L1.sub.0 structure, wherein the substrate, the underlayer, and the magnetic layer are stacked in the recited order, wherein the underlayer includes a first underlayer, and wherein the first underlayer includes magnesium oxide and one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of vanadium oxide, zinc oxide, tin oxide, vanadium nitride, and vanadium carbide, and a total content of the one or more compounds is in a range of 45 mol % to 70 mol %.

2. The heat-assisted magnetic recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the first underlayer is in contact with the magnetic layer.

3. The heat-assisted magnetic recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the underlayer further includes a second subsurface layer, and wherein the second underlayer includes magnesium oxide and is formed between the substrate and the first underlayer.

4. The heat-assisted magnetic recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the underlayer further includes a second underlayer, and wherein the second underlayer includes a substance having a BCC structure or a B2 structure, is formed between the first underlayer and the magnetic layer, and is in contact with the first underlayer.

5. A magnetic storage apparatus comprising: the heat-assisted magnetic recording medium according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a layer structure of a heat-assisted magnetic recording medium according to an embodiment;

(2) FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating another example of a layer structure of a heat-assisted magnetic recording medium according to the embodiment;

(3) FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a magnetic storage apparatus according to the embodiment; and

(4) FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a magnetic head used in the magnetic storage apparatus of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(5) In the following, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that in the drawings used in the following description, portions that are features may be enlarged in order to make the features easy to understand for convenience, and the dimensional ratios of respective components may not be the same as in the drawings.

(6) (Heat-Assisted Magnetic Recording Medium)

(7) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a layer structure of a heat-assisted magnetic recording medium 100A according to an embodiment.

(8) The heat-assisted magnetic recording medium 100A includes a substrate 1, an underlayer 2A, and a magnetic layer 3 including an alloy having an L1.sub.0 structure in this order. Here, in the underlayer 2A, a second underlayer 4 and a first underlayer 5 are stacked in this order. Also, the first underlayer 5 includes magnesium oxide and one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of vanadium oxide, zinc oxide, tin oxide, vanadium nitride, and vanadium carbide. The total content of the above described one or more compounds is in a range of 45 mol % to mol %. Further, the second underlayer 4 includes magnesium oxide.

(9) By having the above described structure, in the heat-assisted magnetic recording medium 100A, the (001) orientation of the magnetic layer 3 including an alloy having an L1.sub.0 structure is enhanced. In addition, in the heat-assisted magnetic recording medium 100A, the magnetic grains contained in the magnetic layer 3 are made finer and exchange coupling between the magnetic grains is reduced. As a result, the coercivity of the heat-assisted magnetic recording medium 100A is enhanced.

(10) Here, because the second underlayer 4 comprising magnesium oxide is (100)-oriented, the first underlayer 5 including magnesium oxide having a NaCl type structure is (100)-oriented. As a result, the (100) plane of the first underlayer 5 lattice-matches the (001) plane of the magnetic layer 3 having an L1.sub.0 type crystal structure, and the (001) orientation of the magnetic layer 3 is enhanced.

(11) Magnesium oxide grains contained in the first underlayer 5 are made finer by the above-described one or more compounds, which are contained in the first underlayer 5. Then, One by one growth is promoted in which one magnetic crystal grain constituting the magnetic layer 3 grows on one magnesium oxide crystal grain. As a result, the (001) orientation of the magnetic layer 3 is enhanced. Also, the magnetic grains contained in the magnetic layer 3 can be made finer, separation between the magnetic grains can be prompted, and exchange coupling between the magnetic grains can be reduced.

(12) Here, because the above-described One by one growth is promoted, it is preferable that the first underlayer 5 is in contact with the magnetic layer 3, but the first underlayer 5 may not be in contact with the magnetic layer 3.

(13) Note that, if vanadium, zinc, or tin in the metal state is used instead of the above-described one or more compounds, when being in contact with magnetic grains, at least portion of vanadium, zinc, or tin in the metal state diffuses into the magnetic grains and the magnetism of the magnetic grains decreases.

(14) The content of the above-described one or more compounds in the first underlayer 5 is in a range of 45 mol % to 70 mol %, and is preferably in a range of 45 mol % to 55 mol %. If the content of the above-described one or more compounds in the first underlayer 5 is less than 45 mol %, the magnesium oxide grains in the first underlayer 5 cannot be sufficiently made finer. If the content of the above-described one or more compounds exceeds 70 mol %, the variance of the grain diameters of the magnesium oxide grains included in the first underlayer 5 increases and the (100) orientation of the first underlayer 5 decreases.

(15) The content of magnesium oxide in the first underlayer 5 is preferably greater than or equal to 30 mol %, and is more preferably greater than or equal to 45 mol %. The (100) orientation of the first underlayer 5 is enhanced when the content of magnesium oxide in the first underlayer 5 is greater than or equal to 30 mol %.

(16) The thickness of the first underlayer 5 is preferably in a range of 0.2 nm to 2 nm, and is more preferably in a range of 0.5 nm to 1.5 nm. When the thickness of the first underlayer 5 is 0.2 nm or more, magnesium oxide grains contained in the first underlayer 5 can be further miniaturized, and when the thickness of the first underlayer 5 is 2 nm or less, the heat dissipation property when writing information to the heat-assisted magnetic recording medium 100A can be further enhanced.

(17) The content of magnesium oxide in the second underlayer 4 is preferably greater than or equal to 50 mol %, and is more preferably greater than or equal to 70 mol %. When the content of magnesium oxide in the second underlayer 4 is 50 mol % or more, the (100) orientation of the second underlayer 4 is enhanced.

(18) An alloy having an L1.sub.0 structure contained in the magnetic layer 3 is preferably a FePt magnetic alloy or a CoPt magnetic alloy.

(19) The magnetic layer 3 preferably includes a grain boundary segregation material for magnetic grains. Thus, the magnetic layer 3 has a granular structure in which the magnetic grains having an L1.sub.0 structure are divided by the grain boundary segregation material.

(20) As the grain boundary segregation material for magnetic grains, an oxide such as silicon dioxide (SiO.sub.2), titanium dioxide (TiO.sub.2), chromium oxide (Cr.sub.2O.sub.3), aluminum oxide (Al.sub.2O.sub.3), tantalum oxide (Ta.sub.2O.sub.5), zirconium oxide (ZrO.sub.2), yttrium oxide (Y.sub.2O.sub.3), cerium oxide (CeO.sub.2), manganese oxide (MnO), titanium monoxide (TiO), or zinc oxide (ZnO), carbon (C), a carbide such as vanadium carbide (VC), a nitride such as vanadium nitride (VN), boron nitride (BN), titanium nitride (TiN), or the like may be used. Two or more of these may be used in combination as the grain boundary segregation material for magnetic grains.

(21) It is preferable that a protective layer is formed on the magnetic layer 3 in the heat-assisted magnetic recording medium 100A.

(22) A method of forming the protective layer is not limited to a particular method. For example, a RF-CVD (Radio Frequency-Chemical Vapor Deposition) method that decomposes a source gas made of hydrocarbon by high-frequency plasma, an IBD (Ion Beam Deposition) method that ionizes a source gas by electrons emitted from a filament, a FCVA (Filtered Cathodic Vacuum Arc) method that uses a solid carbon target without using a source gas, or the like may be used to form the protective layer.

(23) The thickness of the protective layer is preferably 1 nm or more and 6 nm or less. The floating properties of the magnetic head become satisfactory when the thickness of the protective layer is 1 nm or more. Also, a magnetic spacing decreases and the SNR of the heat-assisted magnetic recording medium 100A is enhanced when the thickness of the protective layer is 6 nm or less.

(24) In the heat-assisted magnetic recording medium 100A, a lubricant layer including a perfluoropolyether-based lubricant may be further formed on the protective layer.

(25) FIG. 2 illustrates another example of a layer configuration of a heat-assisted magnetic recording medium 100B according to the present embodiment.

(26) The heat-assisted magnetic recording medium 100B has a configuration similar to that of the heat-assisted magnetic recording medium 100A with the exception that an underlayer 2B is formed instead of the underlayer 2A.

(27) Note that in the heat-assisted magnetic recording medium 100B, elements that are the same as those of the heat-assisted magnetic recording medium 100A are referred to by the same reference numerals, and duplicate descriptions may be omitted as appropriate.

(28) The underlayer 2B has a configuration the same as that of the underlayer 2A with the exception that a second underlayer 4 is not formed and a second underlayer 6 is formed between the first underlayer 5 and the magnetic layer 3.

(29) The second underlayer 6 includes a substance having a BCC structure or a B2 structure.

(30) Here, because the first underlayer 5 including magnesium oxide having a NaCl type structure is (100)-oriented, the second underlayer 6 including the substance having the BCC structure or the B2 structure is (100)-oriented. As a result, the (100) plane of the second underlayer 6 lattice-matches the (001) plane of the magnetic layer 3 having an L1.sub.0 structure, and the (001) orientation of the magnetic layer 3 is enhanced.

(31) Magnesium oxide grains contained in the first underlayer 5 are made finer by the above-described one or more compounds, which are contained in the first underlayer 5. Then, One by one growth is promoted in which one crystal grain of the substance having the BCC structure or the B2 structure constituting the second underlayer 6 heteroepitaxially grows on one magnesium oxide crystal grain. Also, One by one growth is promoted in which one magnetic crystal grain constituting the magnetic layer 3 grows on one crystal grain of the substance having the BCC structure or the B2 structure. As a result, the (001) orientation of the magnetic layer 3 is enhanced. Also, the magnetic grains contained in the magnetic layer 3 can be made finer, separation between the magnetic grains can be prompted, and exchange coupling between the magnetic grains can be reduced.

(32) Examples of the substance having the BCC structure included in the second underlayer 6 include Cr, a CrMn alloy, a CrMo alloy, a CrW alloy, a CrV alloy, a CrTi alloy, a CrRu alloy, and the like.

(33) Examples of the substance having the B2 structure included in the second underlayer 6 include a RuAl alloy, a NiAl alloy, and the like.

(34) The content of the substance having the BCC or B2 structure in the second underlayer 6 is preferably greater than or equal to 60 mol %, and is more preferably greater than or equal to 80 mol %. The (100) orientation of the second underlayer 6 is improved when the content of the substance having the BCC structure or the B2 structure in the second underlayer 6 is greater than or equal to 60 mol %.

(35) (Magnetic Storage Apparatus)

(36) A magnetic storage apparatus according to the present embodiment is not limited to a particular structure, as long as the magnetic storage apparatus includes a heat-assisted magnetic recording medium according to the embodiment described above.

(37) The magnetic storage apparatus according to the present embodiment includes, for example, a magnetic recording medium drive unit for rotating a heat-assisted magnetic recording medium, a magnetic head provided with a near field light generation element on its tip, a magnetic head drive unit for moving the magnetic head, and a recording and reproducing signal processing system.

(38) Also, the magnetic head includes, for example, a laser light generation unit for heating the heat-assisted magnetic recording medium, and a waveguide for guiding laser light generated from the laser light generation unit to the near field light generation element.

(39) FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a magnetic storage apparatus according to the present embodiment.

(40) The magnetic storage apparatus illustrated in FIG. 3 includes a heat-assisted magnetic recording medium 100 (100A or 100B), a magnetic recording medium drive unit 101 for rotating the heat-assisted magnetic recording medium 100, a magnetic head 102, a magnetic head drive unit 103 for moving the magnetic head 102, and a recording and reproducing signal processing system 104.

(41) FIG. 4 illustrates an example of the magnetic head 102.

(42) The magnetic head 102 includes a recording head 208 and a reproducing head 211.

(43) The recording head 208 includes a main magnetic pole 201, an auxiliary magnetic pole 202, a coil 203 for generating a magnetic field, a laser diode (LD) 204, which serves as a laser light generation unit, and a waveguide 207 for transmitting laser light 205 generated at the LD 204 to a near field light generation element 206.

(44) The reproducing head 211 includes a reproducing element 210 sandwiched by shields 209.

EXAMPLES

(45) In the following, Examples of the present invention will be described. Note that the present invention is not limited to Examples described below, and various variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Examples 1 to 6 and Comparative Examples 1 to 3

(46) On a heat-resistant glass substrate, an alloy layer (underlayer) of Cr-50 at % Ti having a thickness of 50 nm was formed and heated to 250 C. Thereafter, a Cr layer (underlayer) having a thickness of 10 nm was formed. Thereafter, a Mo layer (underlayer) having a thickness of 1 nm, a MgO layer (second underlayer) having a thickness of 1 nm, and a first underlayer having a thickness of 0.3 nm were formed in this order and heated to 520 C. Thereafter, a layer (magnetic layer) of (Fe-55 at % Pt)-40 mol % C having a thickness of 3 nm and a layer (magnetic layer) of (Fe-55 at % Pt)-40 mol % SiO.sub.2 having a thickness of 3 nm were formed in this order to obtain a heat-assisted magnetic recording medium.

(47) Here, the materials constituting the first underlayers are indicated in Table 1.

(48) For example, MgO-50 mol % ZnO.sub.2 means that the content of MgO is 50 mol % and the content of ZnO.sub.2 is 50 mol %.

(49) (Average Grain Diameter <D> of MgO Grains and Variance /<D> of Grain Diameters Normalized by Average Grain Diameter)

(50) A TEM was used to measure <D> and /<D> of MgO grains included in the first underlayer for each of Examples 1 to 6 and Comparative Examples 1 to 2.

(51) ((001) Orientation 50 of Magnetic Grains>

(52) An X-ray diffraction (XRD) apparatus (manufactured by Philips) was used to measure 50 of magnetic grains contained in the magnetic layer for each of Examples 1 to 6 and Comparative Examples 1 to 2.

(53) (Coercivity Hc of Heat-Assisted Magnetic Recording Medium)

(54) Using a Kerr magnetic measurement apparatus (manufactured by NEOARK CORPORATION), Hc of the heat-assisted magnetic recording medium was measured for each of Examples 1 to 6 and Comparative Examples 1 to 2.

(55) Table 1 indicates the measurement results of <D> and /<D> of the MgO grains, 50 of the magnetic grains, and Hc of the heat-assisted magnetic recording medium for each of Examples 1 to 6 and Comparative Examples 1 to 3. Note that with respect to 50 of the magnetic grains, as the value is lower, the orientation (001) is higher.

(56) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 MAGNETIC FIRST UNDERLAYER LAYER <D> [nm] /<D> 50 OF OF MgO OF MgO MAGNETIC Hc COMPOSITION GRAINS GRAINS GRAINS [kOe] E1 MgO50 mol 5.1 0.19 6.5 34.5 % ZnO E2 MgO65 mol 4.8 0.21 6.7 35.8 % ZnO E3 MgO50 mol 5.2 0.22 6.8 33.6 % V.sub.2O.sub.3 E4 MgO50 mol 5.3 0.20 7.0 32.0 % SnO.sub.2 E5 MgO50 mol % VN 4.6 0.21 6.9 32.7 E6 MgO50 mol % VC 4.7 0.23 7.2 31.9 CE1 MgO18 mol 6.2 0.19 8.1 23.4 % SiO.sub.2 CE2 MgO75 mol 4.8 0.31 9.4 18.2 % ZnO CE3 MgO30 mol % ZnO

(57) From Table 1, it is apparent that, for each of Examples 1 to 6, the heat-assisted magnetic recording medium has high Hc.

(58) Conversely, in the heat-assisted recording medium of Comparative Example 1, because the first underlayer does not contain V.sub.2O.sub.3, ZnO, SnO.sub.2, VN, or VC, <D> of the MgO grains and 50 of the magnetic grains are large and Hc is small.

(59) In the heat-assisted recording medium of Comparative Example 2, because the content of ZnO in the first underlayer is 75 mol %, /<D> of the MgO grains and 50 of the magnetic grains are large and Hc is small.

(60) In the heat-assisted recording medium of Comparative Example 3, because the content of ZnO in the first underlayer is 30 mol %, MgO grains were not present. Therefore, measurement of 50 and Hc of the magnetic grains was omitted.

Examples 7 to 12 and Comparative Examples 4 to 6

(61) On a heat-resistant glass substrate, an alloy layer (underlayer) of Cr-50 at % Ti having a thickness of 50 nm, an alloy layer (soft magnetic underlayer) of Co-20 at % Ta-5 at % B having a thickness of 25 nm, and a first underlayer having a thickness of 0.3 nm were formed in this order and then heated to 250 C. Thereafter, a Cr layer (second underlayer) having a thickness of 10 nm, a Mo layer (underlayer) having a thickness of 1 nm, and a MgO layer (underlayer) having a thickness of 1 nm were formed and then heated to 520 C. Thereafter, a layer (magnetic layer) of (Fe-55 at % Pt)-40 mol % C having a thickness of 3 nm and a layer (magnetic layer) of (Fe-55 at % Pt)-40 mol % SiO.sub.2 having a thickness of 3 nm were formed in this order to obtain a heat-assisted magnetic recording medium.

(62) ((200) Orientation 50 of Cr>

(63) An X-ray diffraction (XRD) apparatus (manufactured by Philips) was used to measure 50 of Cr included in the second underlayer for each of Examples 7 to 12 and Comparative Examples 4 to 5.

(64) Table 2 indicates the measurement results of <D> and /<D> of the MgO grains, 50 of Cr and the magnetic grains, and Hc of the heat-assisted magnetic recording medium for each of Examples 7 to 12 and Comparative Examples 4 to 6. Note that with respect to 50 of Cr, as the value is lower, the orientation (200) is higher.

(65) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 MAG- NETIC SECOND LAYER FIRST UNDERLAYER UNDER- 50 OF <D> [nm] /<D> LAYER MAG- COMPO- OF MgO OF MgO 50 NETIC Hc SITION GRAINS GRAINS OF Cr GRAINS [kOe] E7 MgO50 5.1 0.19 4.6 6.7 30.5 mol % ZnO E8 MgO65 4.8 0.21 4.7 6.9 31.6 mol % ZnO E9 MgO50 5.2 0.22 6.8 6.9 29.8 mol % V.sub.2O.sub.3 E10 MgO50 5.3 0.20 6.1 7.1 28.3 mol % SnO.sub.2 E11 MgO50 4.6 0.21 7.5 7.1 29.0 mol % VN E12 MgO50 4.7 0.23 5.8 7.4 28.2 mol % VC CE4 MgO18 6.2 0.19 8.1 9.6 16.6 mol % SiO.sub.2 CE5 MgO75 4.8 0.31 9.4 10.1 15.1 mol % ZnO CE6 MgO30 mol % ZnO

(66) From Table 2, it is apparent that, for each of Examples 7 to 12, the heat-assisted magnetic recording medium has high Hc.

(67) Conversely, in the heat-assisted recording medium of Comparative Example 4, because the first underlayer does not contain V.sub.2O.sub.3, ZnO, SnO.sub.2, VN, or VC, <D> of the MgO grains and 50 of Cr and the magnetic grains are large and Hc is small.

(68) In the heat-assisted recording medium of Comparative Example 5, because the content of ZnO in the first underlayer is 75 mol %, /<D> of the MgO grains and 50 of Cr and the magnetic grains are large and Hc is small.

(69) In the heat-assisted recording medium of Comparative Example 6, because the content of ZnO in the first underlayer is 30 mol %, MgO grains were not present. Therefore, measurement of 50 and Hc of Cr and the magnetic grains was omitted.