Magnetic medium using spin-polarized electrons and apparatus and method of recording data on the magnetic medium

A data recording apparatus comprising:

• a probe having:
• a tip formed of a semiconductor or conductive metal;
• a separate magnetic film capping the outer surface of the tip, the magnetic film spin-polarizing electrons from the tip;
• wherein the probe injects the electrons into a magnetic medium and changes the direction of the magnetization of a magnetic recording layer of the magnetic medium to record data on the magnetic medium.

A magnetic medium formed on a substrate, the magnetic medium comprising:

• a polarization layer that spin-polarizes electrons;
• and
• a magnetic recording layer in which the direction of magnetization varies depending on the direction of the spin-polarization of the electrons, wherein
• (a) if the polarization layer, the magnetic recording layer and a tip of a probe arranged at one side of the magnetic medium have a first structure, then the electrons are injected into the magnetic recording layer via the substrate when the magnetization directions of the polarization layer and the magnetic recording layer are the same, but the electrons are injected into the magnetic recording layer via the tip of the probe when the magnetization directions of the polarization layer and the magnetic recording layer are different, or
• (b) if the polarization layer, the magnetic recording layer and the tip of the probe have a second structure, then the electrons are injected into the magnetic recording layer via the tip when the magnetization directions of the polarization layer are the same, but the electrons are injected into the magnetic recording layer via the substrate when the magnetization directions of the polarization layer and the magnetic recording layer are different, wherein
• the first structure and the second structure are different.

A data recording method comprising:

• spin-polarizing electrons injected into a magnetic medium by applying a voltage to the magnetic medium via a movable probe when the movable probe contacts the magnetic medium;
• and
• recording data on the magnetic medium by changing the direction of magnetization of a recording layer of the magnetic medium via a polarization layer according to the direction of spin polarization of the electrons,
• wherein the polarization layer has a unidirectional magnetization, and
• wherein the polarization of the magnetic recording layer is in the same direction as the polarization of the polarization layer or magnetic recording layer is not polarized.

A data recording method comprising:

• preparing for a magnetic medium having a recording layer and a polarization layer and a probe that records data while moving over the magnetic medium;
• and
• spin-polarizing electrons using the polarization layer and recording data on the magnetic medium, wherein the spin polarizing includes,
• (a) if the polarization layer, the magnetic recording layer and a tip of a probe arranged at one side of the magnetic medium have a first structure, injecting electrons into the magnetic recording layer via a tip of a probe arranged at one side of the magnetic medium if the magnetization directions of the polarization layer and the magnetic recording medium are different, but injecting electrons into the magnetic recording layer via a substrate if the magnetization directions of the polarization layer and the magnetic recording medium are the same, or
• (b) if the polarization layer, the magnetic recording layer and the tip of the probe have a second structure, injecting electrons into the magnetic recording layer via the substrate if the magnetization directions of the polarization layer and the magnetic recording medium are different, but injecting electrons into the magnetic recording layer via the tip if the magnetization directions of the polarization layer and the magnetic recording medium are the same, wherein
• the first structure and the second structure are different.