Abstract
We study exchange coupled composite (ECC) media where both the hard and soft coupled layers possess perpendicular anisotropy or one of the layers is superparamagnetic. Our model is used to demonstrate the effect of the dipolar interactions on the coercive field. A series of ECC samples with various thicknesses of Ru spacer is manufactured and analyzed. The structure of the samples prepared is CoPtCr-Si O2 RuCoPtCr-Si O2, with the composition varied around that of (Co Pt17 Cr10)90 - (Si O2)10. The acquired experimental data are used to illustrate the significance of magnetostatic interactions between the two coupled magnetic layers. © 2008 American Institute of Physics.