Media structure with selected segregants configured to improve heat-assisted magnetic recording

A method for manufacturing a magnetic recording medium, the method comprising:

• providing a substrate;
• providing a heat sink layer on the substrate;
• providing a underlayer structure on the heat sink layer, comprising:
• a first underlayer comprising MgOTiO;
• and
• a second underlayer comprising MgO directly on the first underlayer, the first underlayer and the second underlayer being different in their respective compositions;
• and
• providing a plurality of magnetic recording layers directly on the underlayer structure, the plurality of magnetic recording layers comprising a first magnetic layer and a second magnetic layer disposed on the first magnetic layer, the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer being different in respective compositions, the first magnetic layer comprising FePt—Ag, and the second magnetic layer comprising FePt—Ag—Cu—X, wherein X is a segregant comprising BN.

A magnetic recording medium comprising:

• a substrate;
• a heat sink layer on the substrate;
• a underlayer structure on the heat sink layer, comprising:
• a first underlayer comprising MgOTiO;
• and
• a second underlayer comprising MgO directly on the first underlayer, the first underlayer and the second underlayer being different in their respective compositions;
• and
• a plurality of magnetic recording layers directly on the underlayer structure, the plurality of magnetic recording layers comprising a first magnetic layer and a second magnetic layer disposed on the first magnetic layer, the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer being different in respective compositions, the first magnetic layer comprising FePt—Ag, and the second magnetic layer comprising FePt—Ag—Cu—X, wherein X is a segregant comprising B4C.