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].