MAGNETIC RECORDING MEDIA WITH SACRIFICIAL LAYER AND CORRESPONDING ETCHING PROCESSES TO MINIMIZE HEAD TO MEDIA SPACING

Abstract: various apparatuses, systems, methods, and media are disclosed to provide a heat-assisted magnetic recording (hamr) medium that includes a sacrificial layer and corresponding etching processes to minimize head to media spacing. the medium may include the sacrificial layer and a capping layer where each of the layers is etched to reduce roughness. the sacrificial layer is configured to ensure an etch rate that allows for selective etching and may be deposited on the capping layer and after etching, may remain along grain boundaries of the capping layer. the remaining portions of the sacrificial layer may form a discontinuous layer, including layer segments positioned along grain boundaries of the capping layer. the sacrificial layer may be made of non-magnetic materials different from the materials of the capping layer or materials of an overcoat layer deposited on the etched capping layer.

Inventor(s): Wei Guo, Ge Xu

CPC Classification: G11B5/66 (the record carriers consisting of several layers)

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