Magnetic properties of granular CoCrPt:SiO2 films as tailored by Co⁺ irradiation

We report on an approach to tailor the magnetic exchange in a conventional granular CoCrPt:SiO₂ recording medium by irradiation with Co⁺ ions. Irradiation at low fluences enhances the intergranular exchange resulting in a narrowing of the switching field distribution (SFD). The modification of magnetic exchange coupling was evidenced by measuring the angular dependence of the switching field and is supported by an increase in the magnetic domain size. Further, micromagnetic simulations of a granular magnetic medium confirm the correlation between intergranular exchange and SFD. At high fluences, however, the irradiation damages lead to the degradation of the magnetic layer as magnetic anisotropy and saturation magnetization decrease. Ion irradiation simulations suggest that this is caused by strong intermixing at the grain and layer interfaces.