Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.v.

International Business Machines Corporation

Hgst Netherlands, B.v.

Western Digital Technologies, Inc.

Bruce Alvin Gurney

Ernesto Esteban Marinero

Matthew Joseph Carey

Virgil S Speriosu

Stefan Maat

Patrick Braganca

Robert Fontana

Neil Smith

Dennis R Wilhoit

Thomas Dudley Boone, Jr

Bruce Alexander Wilson

Liesl Folks

Bernard Dieny

Jeffrey Childress

Eric Edward Fullerton

Manfred Ernst Schabes

Stuart Stephen Parkin

Philip M Rice

Hardayal Singh Gill

Jordan Asher Katine

Ricardo Ruiz

Rehan Ahmed Zakai

Qing Zhu

Thomas R Albrecht

Richard Leo Galbraith

David Arfon Williams

Haralambos Lefakis

Ren Xu

Shi-Ling Chang Wang

Amitava Chattopadhyay

Thai Le

Daniele Mauri

Luiz M Franca-Neto

Dieter Klaus Weller

Hal Jervis Rosen

Bruce David Terris

Peter Michael Baumgart

Timothy C Reiley

Douglas Johnson Werner

David Thomas Margulies

Xiao Z Wu

Hoa Van Do

David Eugene Heim

Samir Y Garzon

Kentaro Takano

Joseph Francis Smyth

Ian L Sanders

Ronald Franklin Marks

Simone Pisana

Joerg Wunderlich

Omar U Need, Iii

John Edward Eric Baglin

Andrew Stuart Troup

Han Zou

Robin Frederick Charles Farrow

Moris Musa Dovek

John Thomas Contreras

David John Seagle

Tsann Lin

Ching Hwa Tsang

Brian Rodrick York

Petrus Antonius Van Der Heijden

Yang Li

Lidu Huang

Klaas Berend Klaassen

Kevin Robert Coffey

Jian Zhu

Olav Hellwig

Robert Beach

Lei Wan

Sergio Nicoletti

Daniel Rugar

Harry Jonathon Mamin

Steven E Lambert

Dan Saylor Kercher

Tiffany Santos

Vijay P S Rawat

Robert John Wilson

Keyu Pi

Hitesh Arora

Nicholas R Conley

Serhat Metin

Yongho Ju

Chu S Tran

Frank Zhu

Aleksey Andreev

Alan C Lam

Jean-Marc L Beaujour

Stuart Stephen Papworth-Parkin

Markus Schwickert

Jodi Mari Iwata

En Yang

Jean-Pierre Nozieres

Jun Chen

Thomas Block

Methods are disclosed for increasing areal density in Heat Assisted Magnetic Recording (HAMR) data storage systems by controlling the media layer grain size, grain size distribution, and pitch via templating techniques that are compatible with the high temperature HAMR media deposition. Embodiments include using current HAMR media seed layers as well as additionally introduced interlayers for the templating process. Topographic as well as chemical templating methods are disclosed that may employ nanoimprint technology or nanoparticle self-assembly among other patterning techniques.

Structures and methods for templated growth of high areal density heat assisted magnetic recording media

In one embodiment, a structure includes: a substrate; and a monolayer of nanoparticles positioned above the substrate, where the nanoparticles are each grafted to one or more oligomers and/or polymers, and where each of the polymers and/or oligomers includes at least a first functional group configured to bind to the nanoparticles. In another embodiment, a structure includes: a substrate; a structured layer positioned above the substrate, the structured layer comprising a plurality of nucleation regions and a plurality of non-nucleation regions; and a crystalline layer positioned above the structured layer, where the plurality of nucleation regions have a pitch in a range between about 5 nm to about 20 nm.

Self-assembled nanoparticles with polymeric and/or oligomeric ligands

A segregated media based magnetic memory pillar cell and a method for implementing the segregated media based magnetic memory pillar cell for use in Solid-State Drives (SSDs) are provided. The segregated media based magnetic memory pillar cell includes a first conductor Mand a second conductor Mwith the second conductor Msurrounded by the first conductor M. The first conductor Mis formed of a segregated magnetic media material defining multiple domains.

Implementing segregated media based magnetic memory

A magnetic disk according to one embodiment includes a recording layer; and a layer of graphene formed above the recording layer. A nucleation layer may be formed between the recording layer and the graphene layer in some approaches. A magnetic device according to another embodiment includes a transducer; a nucleation layer formed above the transducer; and a layer of graphene formed on the nucleation layer. A method according to one embodiment includes forming a nucleation layer above a magnetic layer of a magnetic disk or magnetic device; and forming a layer of graphene on the nucleation layer. A method according to another embodiment includes depositing SiC above a magnetic layer of a magnetic disk or magnetic device, the SiC being equivalent to several monolayers thick; and surface heating the SiC to selectively evaporate some of the Si from the SiC for forming a layer of graphene on a SiC layer. Additional products and methods are also presented.

Magnetic devices and magnetic media with graphene overcoat

A perpendicular magnetic recording disk includes a template layer below a Ru or Ru alloy underlayer, with a granular Co alloy recording layer formed on the underlayer. substrate. The template layer comprises nanoparticles spaced-apart and partially embedded within a polymer material, with the nanoparticles protruding above the surface of the polymer material. A seed layer covers the surface of the polymer material and the protruding nanoparticles and an underlayer of Ru or a Ru alloy covers the seed layer. The protruding nanoparticles serve as the controlled nucleation sites for the Ru or Ru alloy atoms. The nanoparticle-to-nanoparticle distances can be controlled during the formation of the template layer. This enables control of the Co alloy grain diameter distribution as well as grain-to-grain distance distribution.

Perpendicular magnetic recording disk with template layer formed of nanoparticles embedded in a polymer material

A continuous-media perpendicular magnetic recording disk has a granular recording layer (RL) with controlled grain pitch distribution and controlled long range ordering of the grains. The disk includes a substrate with a template layer for the RL that comprises a blend of at least two different sized nanoparticles. The nanoparticles have a nanoparticle core with attached polymer ligands. The nanoparticle cores protrude above the surface of the template layer to provide a nonplanar surface topology. The blend of two sizes of nanoparticles causes the RL to have low grain pitch distribution and a disruption of long range ordering so that there are no large magnetic rafts. One of the nanoparticles types has a diameter greater than 105% of the diameter of the other nanoparticle type and is present in the total blend of nanoparticles of between about 5% and 35% or between about 55% and 90%.

Perpendicular magnetic recording disk with template layer formed of a blend of nanoparticles

A bit-patterned media (BPM) magnetic recording disk has a cobalt (Co) alloy recording layer (RL), a ruthenium (Ru) containing underlayer (UL), and a noble metal film (NMF) as an interlayer between the RL and the UL. The RL is preferably oxide-free and is a Co alloy, like a CoPtCr alloy, with a hexagonal-close-packed (hcp) crystalline structure with its c-axis oriented substantially perpendicular to the plane of the RL. The NMF is an element from the Pt group (Pt, Pd, Rh, Ir) and Au, or an alloy of two or more of these elements, and has a thickness less than 3.0 nm, preferably between 0.3 and 1.0 nm. The NMF does not interrupt the epitaxial growth of the RL and has little to no effect on the distribution of the RL c-axis orientation. The NMF increases the coercivity (Hc) and perpendicular magnetic anisotropy constant (K) of the RL.

Patterned perpendicular magnetic recording medium with ultrathin noble metal interlayer

The embodiments disclosed generally relate to a read device in a magnetic recording head. The read device uses parametric excitation to injection lock the STO to an external AC signal with a frequency that is two times the resonance frequency, or more. The field from the media acting on the STO causes a change in the phase between the STO output and the external locking signal, which can be monitored using a phase detection circuit. The injection locking improves the STO signal to noise ratio and simplifies the detection circuit.

Phase detection of spin torque oscillator reader excited through parametric excitation

In one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a first shield; a spin torque oscillator (STO) sensor positioned above the first shield, the STO sensor comprising a reference layer and a free layer positioned above the reference layer; and at least one shield positioned in a plane that is parallel with a media-facing surface of the STO sensor, the plane also intersecting the STO sensor, wherein one or more of the at least one shield comprises a highly magnetically permeable material that is exchange decoupled and electrically decoupled from the STO sensor. Other magnetic heads, systems, and methods for producing the magnetic heads are described according to more embodiments.

Spin torque oscillator (STO) reader with soft magnetic side shields

Disk drives with sliders including with an impedance compensation network in the signal path for the read sensor are described. The read signal bandwidth at the preamplifier is improved by the impedance compensation network to allow signals in the multi-GHz range from spin torque oscillators as well as tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) sensors to be used. An embodiment of the invention achieves a signal layout balance by constructing two inductor-capacitor pair structures on the trailing edge of the slider that are integrated into the differential read signal traces. The differential balanced structure helps to suppress external signal interference pick-up from transferring from common-mode pick-up to differential mode.

Disk drive with filter compensation integrated in sliders for high-bandwidth read sensors

A method for making a perpendicular magnetic recording disk includes forming a template layer below a Ru or Ru alloy underlayer, with a granular Co alloy recording layer formed on the underlayer. The template layer is formed by depositing a solution of a polymer with a functional end group and nanoparticles, allowing the solution to dry, annealing the polymer layer to thereby form a polymer layer with embedded spaced-apart nanoparticles, and then etching the polymer layer to a depth sufficient to partially expose the nanoparticles so they protrude above the surface of the polymer layer. The protruding nanoparticles serve as controlled nucleation sites for the Ru or Ru alloy atoms. The nanoparticle-to-nanoparticle distances can be controlled during the formation of the template layer. This enables control of the Co alloy grain diameter distribution as well as grain-to-grain distance distribution.

Method for making a perpendicular magnetic recording disk with template layer formed of nanoparticles embedded in a polymer material

A perpendicular magnetic recording disk has servo regions that have a patterned underlayer with seed layer pillars formed on the underlayer pillars above the underlayer trenches. The underlayer is made of an oxidizable material. Magnetic recording material is located on the seed layer pillars and on an oxide layer in the underlayer trenches. The magnetic material in the trenches exhibits a magnetic field substantially less than the magnetic field exhibited by the magnetic material on the seed layer pillars, which has perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. The reduced magnetic field from the trenches results from structural differences between the magnetic material on the seed layer pillars and in the trenches, such as smaller grain size of the magnetic material on the seed layer pillars and a wider distribution of crystallographic axes of the magnetic material in the trenches. The seed layer may be made of a material substantially non-reactive with oxygen.

Perpendicular magnetic recording disk with patterned servo regions and templated growth method for making the disk

A spin accumulation sensor having a three terminal design that allows the free layer to be located at the air bearing surface. A non-magnetic conductive spin transport layer extends from a free layer structure (located at the ABS) to a reference layer structure removed from the ABS. The sensor includes a current or voltage source for applying a current across a reference layer structure. The current or voltage source has a lead that is connected with the non-magnetic spin transport layer and also to electric ground. Circuitry for measuring a signal voltage measures a voltage between a shield that is electrically connected with the free layer structure and the ground. The free layer structure can include a spin diffusion layer that ensures that all spin current is completely dissipated before reaching the lead to the voltage source, thereby preventing shunting of the spin current to the voltage source.

Three-terminal design for spin accumulation magnetic sensor

A spin-torque oscillator with antiferromagnetically-coupled free layers has at least one of the free layers with increased magnetic damping. The Gilbert magnetic damping parameter (&#x3b1;) is at least 0.05. The damped free layer may contain as a dopant one or more damping elements selected from the group consisting of Pt, Pd and the 15 lanthanide elements. The free layer damping may also be increased by a damping layer adjacent the free layer. One type of damping layer may be an antiferromagnetic material, like a Mn alloy. As a modification to the antiferromagnetic damping layer, a bilayer damping layer may be formed of the antiferromagnetic layer and a nonmagnetic metal electrically conductive separation layer between the free layer and the antiferromagnetic layer. Another type of damping layer may be one formed of one or more of the elements selected from Pt, Pd and the lanthanides.

Spin-torque oscillator (STO) with antiparallel-coupled free ferromagnetic layers and magnetic damping

A method, apparatus, and system are provided for implementing spin-torque oscillator (STO) sensing with a demodulator for hard disk drives. The demodulator measures an instantaneous phase of the readback signal from a STO sensor and converts the readback signal into a signal that is proportional to the magnetic field affecting the STO frequency during a bit time. The converted signal is used for processing by conventional data detection electronics.

Implementing spin-torque oscillator sensing with enhanced demodulator for hard disk drives

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San Rafael, CA, United States of America

Bruce Alvin Gurney