Magnetic recording media with metal-doped capping layer
Various apparatuses, systems, methods, and media are disclosed to provide a magnetic recording medium that capping layer doped with an effective amount of metal to control grain-to-grain exchange coupling in a capping layer. A magnetic recording medium includes a substrate, a magnetic recording layer (MRL) on the substrate, and a capping layer on the MRL. The capping layer include Co and is doped with a metal (e.g., Ru or Ta) in a range from 1 atomic percent to 5 atomic percent, inclusive.
1. A magnetic recording medium comprising:
a substrate;
a magnetic recording layer (MRL) on the substrate; and
an etched capping layer comprising CoCrPtBRu directly on the MRL,
wherein a thickness of the etched capping layer is in a range from 11 Å to 15 Å, inclusive,
wherein the etched capping layer comprises Cr at 4.5 to 6.5 atomic percent and is doped with Ru in a range from 1 atomic percent to 5 atomic percent, inclusive,
wherein the etched capping layer comprises a magnetic layer that is furthest from the substrate among all magnetic layers in the magnetic recording medium, and
wherein a surface roughness of the etched capping layer is less than 4 Angstrom (Å).
2. The magnetic recording medium of claim 1 , wherein the surface roughness of the etched capping layer is less than 3.5 Å.
3. The magnetic recording medium of claim 1 , wherein the Ru of the etched capping layer is configured to reduce a lateral exchange coupling of the etched capping layer as compared to a capping layer without Ru.
4. The magnetic recording medium of claim 1 , wherein the Co of the etched capping layer is at 60 atomic percent or greater.
5. The magnetic recording medium of claim 4 , wherein the Ru of the etched capping layer is in a range of 2 atomic percent to 4 atomic percent, inclusive.
6. The magnetic recording medium of claim 5 , wherein the Ru of the etched capping layer is about 3 atomic percent.
7. The magnetic recording medium of claim 1 , wherein a magnetic moment of the magnetic recording medium is in a range of 500 emu/cc to 800 emu/cc, inclusive.
8. A data storage device, comprising:
a slider comprising a magnetic head; and
the magnetic recording medium of claim 1 ,
wherein the slider is configured to write information to the magnetic recording layer of the magnetic recording medium.
9. The magnetic recording medium of claim 1 , further comprising:
an overcoat directly on the etched capping layer.
10. The magnetic recording medium of claim 1 , wherein the etched capping layer comprises Cr at 4.5, 5.5, 6, or 6.5 atomic percent.
11. The magnetic recording medium of claim 1 , wherein the etched capping layer is doped with about 3 atomic percent of Ru.