Method of producing magnetic recording medium, and magnetic recording and reading device

1. A method of producing a magnetic recording medium having a magnetically-separated magnetic recording pattern, the method comprising:

forming a magnetic layer over a non-magnetic substrate; and

then exposing a surface of the magnetic layer partially to reactive plasma, or a reactive ion generated in the plasma to amorphize a portion of the magnetic layer and to modify the magnetic properties of the portion whereby a magnetically-separated magnetic recording pattern is formed,

wherein the reactive plasma includes a halogen ion to form a halide of a substance constituting the magnetic layer, and removing the halogen from the halide in the portion of the magnetic layer which is exposed to the halogen ion to form a portion that does not substantially include a halide of a substance constituting the magnetic layer.

2. The method of producing a magnetic recording medium according to claim 1 , wherein the magnetization magnitude of the portion of the magnetic layer which is exposed to reactive plasma is adjusted to 75% or less of the original magnetization magnitude thereof in modifying the magnetic properties.

3. The method of producing a magnetic recording medium according to claim 1 , wherein the coercive force of the portion of the magnetic layer which is exposed to reactive plasma is adjusted to 50% or less of the original coercive force thereof in modifying the magnetic properties.

4. The method of producing a magnetic recording medium according to claim 1 , wherein the reactive plasma is plasma which includes an oxygen ion generated by introducing an oxygen gas.

5. The method of producing a magnetic recording medium according to claim 1 , wherein the reactive plasma includes oxygen and a halogen.

6. The method of producing a magnetic recording medium according to claim 1 , wherein the magnetic layer is exposed to plasma including oxygen, and then the magnetic layer is exposed to plasma including a halogen in exposing the surface of the magnetic layer partially to reactive plasma to modify magnetic properties of the portion of the magnetic layer.

7. The method of producing a magnetic recording medium according to claim 1 further comprising injecting an ion partially to the surface of the magnetic layer before exposing the surface of the magnetic layer partially to reactive plasma.

8. The method of producing a magnetic recording medium according to claim 7 , wherein the injected ion is argon or nitrogen.

9. The method of producing a magnetic recording medium according to claim 1 , wherein the halogen ion is a halogen ion which is formed by introducing into the reactive plasma at least one halogenated gas selected from the group consisting of CF 4 , SF 6 , CHF 3 , CCl 4 , and KBr.

10. The method of producing a magnetic recording medium according to claim 1 , wherein the halogen ion is an F ion.

11. The method of producing a magnetic recording medium according to claim 1 , wherein, after the magnetic layer is formed over the non-magnetic substrate, a resist pattern for forming the magnetically-separated magnetic recording pattern is formed on the surface of the magnetic layer, and then, a portion which is not covered with the resist pattern is exposed to the reactive plasma to modify magnetic properties of the portion, thereby forming the magnetically-separated magnetic recording pattern.

12. The method of producing a magnetic recording medium according to claim 1 , wherein a resist pattern is formed after a protective layer is formed on the magnetic layer.

13. The method of producing a magnetic recording medium according to claim 1 , wherein the magnetic recording pattern is a perpendicular magnetic recording pattern.