Micromagnetics and microstructure of epitaxially grown Co and Co-Cr films suitable for perpendicular magnetic recording

摘要

Highly c-axis oriented, single crystal films of Co(sub 1-x)Cr(sub x) (0(= or 400(Angstrom)) ones show stripe domains. These images were analysed in detail to measure that wall widths and associated energy densities for as-grown, remanent and ac- magnetised samples. As expected, the magnetic properties of these films are composition dependent. However, for any Cr concentration, these films exhibit the largest saturation magnetisation when compared with either sputtered or evaporated samples. This enhancement can be attributed to a nanometer-scale segregation of Cr, which in these samples, which in these samples, could be particularly aided by the diffusion on the close-packed planes of the films with very narrow c-axis dispersions. Preliminary X-ray microanalysis and NMR data support this interpretation.