Effect of high energy carbon deposition on recording media

What is it about?

In this paper, we discuss the effect of high energy carbon deposition (such as from filtered cathodic arc) on the magnetic properties of the recording layer of a hard disk drive. The changes are investigated in a novel manner, using a thin magnetic layer that is antiferromagnetically coupled to the recording layer.

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Why is it important?

When high-energy carbon is deposited on a magnetic layer, the carbon ions may be implanted in the magnetic layer and change its properties. However, if the magnetic layer is thick and the changes are happening in only a fraction of the magnetic layer, it is difficult to estimate the damage caused by the carbon deposition. In this paper, we have used a novel synthetic antiferromagnetically coupled structure to study this phenomenon. Other studies such as XPS were used simultaneously.