Observation of Zigzag-Shaped Magnetic Domain Boundaries in Granular Perpendicular Magnetic Recording Media Using Alternating Magnetic Force Microscopy

In granular media for perpendicular magnetic recording, zigzag-shaped magnetic domain boundaries form between magnetic grains isolated by a non-magnetic grain boundary phase. They are the main source of jitter noise caused by the position fluctuation of magnetic bit transitions. The imaging of zigza...

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Main Authors: M. V. Makarova, Hanamichi Tanaka, Hiroshi Sonobe, Toru Matsumura, Hitoshi Saito
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Magnetochemistry
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2312-7481/10/12/106
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author M. V. Makarova
Hanamichi Tanaka
Hiroshi Sonobe
Toru Matsumura
Hitoshi Saito
author_facet M. V. Makarova
Hanamichi Tanaka
Hiroshi Sonobe
Toru Matsumura
Hitoshi Saito
author_sort M. V. Makarova
collection DOAJ
description In granular media for perpendicular magnetic recording, zigzag-shaped magnetic domain boundaries form between magnetic grains isolated by a non-magnetic grain boundary phase. They are the main source of jitter noise caused by the position fluctuation of magnetic bit transitions. The imaging of zigzag boundaries thus becomes an important task to increase recording density with decreasing bit size, when the zigzag and bit sizes become comparable. We visualized the zigzag boundaries of magnetic domains in as-sputtered granular media with a spatial resolution of less than 3 nm using our developed Alternating Magnetic Force Microscopy (A-MFM). We used a soft magnetic amorphous FeCoB tip with high saturation magnetization, which further enhances the spatial resolution through the inverse magnetostrictive effect. The zigzag size ranged from 2 to 8 nm in media with an estimated grain size of around 5 nm. Additionally, we observed zigzag bit boundaries in commercially recorded granular media with a recording density of 500 kfci.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2312-7481
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publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher MDPI AG
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series Magnetochemistry
spelling doaj-art-aa38fdcf8a9a40aa89b9603cc0ca0f102024-12-27T14:37:24ZengMDPI AGMagnetochemistry2312-74812024-12-01101210610.3390/magnetochemistry10120106Observation of Zigzag-Shaped Magnetic Domain Boundaries in Granular Perpendicular Magnetic Recording Media Using Alternating Magnetic Force MicroscopyM. V. Makarova0Hanamichi Tanaka1Hiroshi Sonobe2Toru Matsumura3Hitoshi Saito4Graduate School of Engineering Science, Akita University, 1-1 Tegata Gakuen-Machi, Akita 010-8502, JapanGraduate School of Engineering Science, Akita University, 1-1 Tegata Gakuen-Machi, Akita 010-8502, JapanGraduate School of Engineering Science, Akita University, 1-1 Tegata Gakuen-Machi, Akita 010-8502, JapanGraduate School of Engineering Science, Akita University, 1-1 Tegata Gakuen-Machi, Akita 010-8502, JapanGraduate School of Engineering Science, Akita University, 1-1 Tegata Gakuen-Machi, Akita 010-8502, JapanIn granular media for perpendicular magnetic recording, zigzag-shaped magnetic domain boundaries form between magnetic grains isolated by a non-magnetic grain boundary phase. They are the main source of jitter noise caused by the position fluctuation of magnetic bit transitions. The imaging of zigzag boundaries thus becomes an important task to increase recording density with decreasing bit size, when the zigzag and bit sizes become comparable. We visualized the zigzag boundaries of magnetic domains in as-sputtered granular media with a spatial resolution of less than 3 nm using our developed Alternating Magnetic Force Microscopy (A-MFM). We used a soft magnetic amorphous FeCoB tip with high saturation magnetization, which further enhances the spatial resolution through the inverse magnetostrictive effect. The zigzag size ranged from 2 to 8 nm in media with an estimated grain size of around 5 nm. Additionally, we observed zigzag bit boundaries in commercially recorded granular media with a recording density of 500 kfci.https://www.mdpi.com/2312-7481/10/12/106magnetic recordingzigzag boundariesmagnetic force microscopyamorphous soft magnetic films
spellingShingle M. V. Makarova
Hanamichi Tanaka
Hiroshi Sonobe
Toru Matsumura
Hitoshi Saito
Observation of Zigzag-Shaped Magnetic Domain Boundaries in Granular Perpendicular Magnetic Recording Media Using Alternating Magnetic Force Microscopy
Magnetochemistry
magnetic recording
zigzag boundaries
magnetic force microscopy
amorphous soft magnetic films
title Observation of Zigzag-Shaped Magnetic Domain Boundaries in Granular Perpendicular Magnetic Recording Media Using Alternating Magnetic Force Microscopy
title_full Observation of Zigzag-Shaped Magnetic Domain Boundaries in Granular Perpendicular Magnetic Recording Media Using Alternating Magnetic Force Microscopy
title_fullStr Observation of Zigzag-Shaped Magnetic Domain Boundaries in Granular Perpendicular Magnetic Recording Media Using Alternating Magnetic Force Microscopy
title_full_unstemmed Observation of Zigzag-Shaped Magnetic Domain Boundaries in Granular Perpendicular Magnetic Recording Media Using Alternating Magnetic Force Microscopy
title_short Observation of Zigzag-Shaped Magnetic Domain Boundaries in Granular Perpendicular Magnetic Recording Media Using Alternating Magnetic Force Microscopy
title_sort observation of zigzag shaped magnetic domain boundaries in granular perpendicular magnetic recording media using alternating magnetic force microscopy
topic magnetic recording
zigzag boundaries
magnetic force microscopy
amorphous soft magnetic films
url https://www.mdpi.com/2312-7481/10/12/106
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AT hanamichitanaka observationofzigzagshapedmagneticdomainboundariesingranularperpendicularmagneticrecordingmediausingalternatingmagneticforcemicroscopy
AT hiroshisonobe observationofzigzagshapedmagneticdomainboundariesingranularperpendicularmagneticrecordingmediausingalternatingmagneticforcemicroscopy
AT torumatsumura observationofzigzagshapedmagneticdomainboundariesingranularperpendicularmagneticrecordingmediausingalternatingmagneticforcemicroscopy
AT hitoshisaito observationofzigzagshapedmagneticdomainboundariesingranularperpendicularmagneticrecordingmediausingalternatingmagneticforcemicroscopy