ABSTRACT

Previous chapters reported on the status of current perpendicular

magnetic recording (PMR) media and the recent advancements,

as well as the possible research directions for next-generation

PMR systems. The criteria for the choice of the best material

have been thoroughly discussed within the framework of the

magnetic recording “trilemma” that imposes the search for the best

compromise among three conflicting requirements, that is, thermal

stability, writability, and signal-to-noise ratio [1].