Abstract
The purpose of this thesis is focused on the soft magnetic underlayer materials FeTaC. The material properties, microstructure, roughness, strerss behavior and magnetic properties were investigated under different processing parameters of DC magnetron sputtering; The effects of biasing field offered from hard magnetic material and antiferromagnetic material on the magnetic domain structure in soft magnetic underlayer. And estimate the feasibility of soft underlayer/pinning system in future ultrahigh density perpendicular recording media.FeTaCN films were synthesized by reactive sputtering with various ratio of N2 in Ar atmosphere, which exhibit high saturation magnetization (~1300emu/cc), low coercivity (1.4 Oe), excellent thermal stability, smooth surface roughness(Rms<1 nm), small magnetostriction(λS ~ 0)and sufficient large resistivity(140<ρ<220) in as-deposited state, is a strong candidate for soft magnetic underlayer materials in perpendicular recording media.Biasing field from hard magnetic materials and antiferromagnetic materials, novel soft magnetic underlayer material FeTaCN were effectively biased and came into existence of coherent rotation in hard axis. We also observed the single magnetic domain structure in biased soft magnetic underlayer, anticipating this soft underlayer/pinning system can successfully reduce spike noise in perpendicular recording media that due to domain wall motion in soft magnetic underlayer.