UC Davis

Understanding how interactions within magnetic systems affect the reversal process is critical to the development of magneticrecording media. Using the first-order reversal curve (FORC) method we demonstrate an ability to map out and uniquely identifymagnetic recording media. We evaluate the interactions and intrinsic switching field distribution (SFD) in single layer and exchangecoupled composite granular recording media. Landau–Lifshitz–Gilbert-based simulations are used to probe the roles lateral andvertical exchange interactions have on the distribution of reversal events. We find that there is an optimal value for these terms whichmaximizes homogeneity of the reversal behavior.