Vertical magnetic recording medium, magnetic recording apparatus and manufacturing method of a vertical magnetic recording medium

A magnetic storage apparatus, comprising:

• a recording and playback part having a magnetic head;
• and
• a vertical magnetic recording medium having a recording layer including a track region recorded with information by a magnetic head and an inter-track region separating said track region from an adjacent track region offset in position from said track region in a width direction thereof, said track region and said inter-track region being formed magnetically in said magnetic recording layer, said magnetic recording medium comprising:
• a substrate;
• a soft magnetic backing layer formed on said substrate;
• a magnetic flux confinement layer formed on said soft magnetic backing layer;
• an intermediate layer formed on said magnetic flux confinement layer;
• and
• a recording layer of a vertical magnetization film formed on said intermediate layer,
• wherein said magnetic flux confinement part comprises a plurality of soft magnetic parts each formed along a track region of said plural track regions and a non-magnetic part formed between said track region and an adjacent track region,
• said intermediate layer comprises a non-magnetic material and is formed so as to cover a surface of said soft magnetic parts and said non-magnetic parts.

A manufacturing method of a vertical magnetic recording medium having a magnetic layer including a track region recorded with information by a magnetic head and an inter-track region separating said track region from another track region offset from said track region in a width direction thereof, said track region and said inter-track region being formed magnetically in said recording layer, said method comprising the steps of:

• forming a soft magnetic backing layer on a substrate;
• forming a magnetic confinement layer on said soft magnetic layer;
• forming an intermediate layer so as to cover said magnetic confinement layer;
• and
• forming a recording layer on said intermediate layer,
• said step of forming said magnetic flux confinement layer comprising;
• a first processing step of forming a non-magnetic layer such that said non-magnetic layer covers said soft magnetic layer;
• a second processing step of forming an opening in said non-magnetic layer;
• and
• a third processing step of filling said opening with a soft magnetic material to form said soft magnetic material.