A magnetic recording medium for data storage uses a magnetic recording
layer having at least two ferromagnetic films exchange coupled together
antiferromagnetically across a nonferromagnetic spacer film. In this
antiferromagnetically-coupled (AFC) recording layer the magnetic moments
of the two ferromagnetic films are oriented antiparallel, and thus the net
remanent magnetization-thickness product (Mrt) of the AFC recording layer
is the difference in the Mrt values of the two ferromagnetic films. This
reduction in Mrt is accomplished without a reduction in thermal stability
of the recording medium. The lower ferromagnetic film in the AFC recording
layer is a ferromagnetic CoCrFe alloy that does not require a nucleation
layer between it and the Cr alloy underlayer. The medium with the CoCrFe
alloy as the first or lower ferromagnetic film in the AFC recording layer
has reduced intrinsic media noise.
