| abstract |
A magnetic recording medium employing a thin layer of nonmagnetic material (22) separating a soft magnetic layer (18) and a relatively thicker magnetic recording layer (16) is disclosed. The magnetic recording medium may incorporate conventional magnetic recording materials with the thin nonmagnetic layer (22) being silicon, chromium or carbon. The magnetic recording medium may be prepared by sputtering or other vapor deposition methods. A method for preparing a magnetic recording medium according to the present invention deposits the magnetic recording layer (16) either directly on a substrate (12), or, optionally, on a nucleating layer (14). The thin nonmagnetic layer (22) separates the magnetic recording layer (16) from the soft magnetic layer (18). A protective layer (20) overlies the soft magnetic layer (18). The deposition is achieved under conditions that maintain integrity of the magnetic recording layer. |