K u 2 magnetic anisotropy term of CoPtCr–SiO2 media for high density recording

Measurements of higher energy term of magnetic anisotropy, Ku2, in CoPtCr–SiO2 perpendicular recording media are described. It was revealed that the values of Ku2 and the first order energy term, Ku1, vary significantly according to the seed layer material used, however, no significant change in the ratio of Ku2∕Ku1 was observed on the addition of SiO2 to CoPtCr films. Ku2 increases and Ku1 decreases as the c∕a ratio of the hcp-CoPtCr lattice increases. It is concluded that CoPtCr films have sufficient potential in the values of Ku1 and Ku2 for high density perpendicular media.