Magnetic recording medium and magnetic recording medium manufacturing method

A method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium including, a base having thereon at least a magnetic recording layer having a magnetic recording part and a non-recording part in an in-plane direction, wherein a surface of the magnetic recording medium being above the non-recording part protuberates more than a surface of the magnetic recording medium being above the magnetic recording part, the method comprising:

• a magnetic recording layer forming step of forming at least one magnetic recording layer over the base;
• a protective layer forming step of forming a film of a protective layer made of a C-based material on the magnetic recording layer by CVD;
• a resist layer forming step of forming a film of a resist layer on the protective layer;
• a patterning step of processing the resist layer to partially change a thickness of the resist layer and form a projected part and a recessed part of a predetermined pattern;
• an ion implanting step of implanting ions into the magnetic recording layer through the resist layer, wherein when the ions are implanted through the recessed part of the resist layer, a surface portion of the resist layer is altered and adhered to the protective layer as a residue;
• a resist layer removing step of removing the resist layer by reactive ion etching, wherein the residue is left on the protective layer after the resist layer removing step, and the residue on the protective layer being above the magnetic recording part is less than the residue on the protective layer being above the non-recording part;
• and
• a non-magnetization promoting step of promoting non-magnetization of the non-recording part by immersion in an alkaline solution after the resist layer is removed.