LAUSR

The Curie temperature distribution induced from grain size variation in heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) can be alleviated by including the thermally insulating magnetic grain boundaries. In this paper, we present a systematic micromagnetic study on this new type of HAMR media, focusing on the impact to the recording behaviors from the exchange coupled magnetic boundary (shell). It is found that the soft magnetic shell of higher Curie temperature is capable of assisting the switching of FePt grain in both magnetization and transition process. The important implication of the proposed media for practical HAMR recording is that optimal performance now can be accomplished with relaxed recording conditions in both head field intensity and the heating source, eventually enhancing area density capability and the overall HAMR system stability.