Magnetic alloy having a structured nucleation layer and method for manufacturing same

In a magnetic recording medium wherein a magnetic recording layer comprising substantially a Co alloy is formed above a planar non-magnetic substrate, a structure having improved non-linear transition shift, write jitter, and over write performance, comprising:

• a seed layer of fine crystal grains, having random lattice plane orientations, formed directly on said non-magnetic substrate;
• an intermediate layer comprising at least in part Cr grains, formed on said seed layer grains, of sufficient thickness to allow an uppermost surface thereof to present primarily preferred lattice planes;
• and
• at least one segregant material deposited together with said Co alloy;
• whereby said magnetic recording layer forms generally epitaxially on said primarily preferred lattice planes, said recording layer having an epitaxial relationship determined primarily by said intermediate layer of said structured nucleation layer, said Co-based alloy predominantly forms single crystallite magnetic grains of uniform size, said predominantly single crystallite magnetic grains having grain boundaries, said segregant material being disposed primarily at said grain boundaries, said single crystallite magnetic grains having their C-axes oriented predominantly parallel to the primary plane of said substrate.

A structured nucleation layer, formed above a planar non-magnetic substrate, and having formed thereon a substantially Co-alloy magnetic recording layer containing at least one segregant material, for providing said magnetic recording layer with improved non-linear transition shift, write jitter, and over write performance, comprising:

• a seed layer of fine crystal grains, having random lattice plane orientations, formed directly on said non-magnetic substrate;
• and
• an intermediate layer comprising at least in part Cr grains, formed on said seed layer grains, of sufficient thickness to allow an uppermost surface thereof to present primarily preferred lattice planes;
• whereby said magnetic recording layer forms generally epitaxially on said primarily preferred lattice planes, said recording layer having an epitaxial relationship determined primarily by said intermediate layer of said structured nucleation layer, said Co-based alloy predominantly forms single crystallite magnetic grains of uniform size, said predominantly single crystallite magnetic grains having grain boundaries, said segregant material being disposed primarily at said grain boundaries, said single crystallite magnetic grains having their C-axes oriented predominantly parallel to the primary plane of said substrate.

In a method of forming a magnetic recording medium wherein a magnetic recording layer comprising substantially a Co alloy is formed above a planar non-magnetic substrate, a method of improving non-linear transition shift, write jitter, and over write performance, comprising:

• vacuum depositing a seed layer of fine crystal grains, having random lattice plane orientations, directly on said non-magnetic substrate;
• vacuum depositing an intermediate layer of crystal grains on said seed layer grains, of sufficient thickness to allow an uppermost surface thereof to present primarily preferred lattice planes;
• and
• vacuum depositing together with said Co alloy at least one segregant material;
• whereby said magnetic recording layer forms generally epitaxially on said primarily preferred lattice planes, said recording layer having an epitaxial relationship determined primarily by said intermediate layer of said structured nucleation layer, said Co-based alloy predominantly forms single crystallite magnetic grains of uniform size, said predominantly single crystallite magnetic grains having grain boundaries, said segregant material migrating primarily to said grain boundaries, and said Co-based alloy having a C-axis forming predominantly parallel to the primary plane of said substrate.