JPH11102510A - Perpendicular magnetic recording medium and magnetic recording device using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To control fine magnetic-domain structure at the time of magnetic recording, and to obtain excellent low noise characteristics, by forming two layers or more of magnetic films on a substrate, making the vertical magnetic anisotropy of a second magnetic film on the side far from a substrate surface larger than that of a first magnetic film on the side near the substrate side and improving the magnetic isolating properties of the first magnetic film. SOLUTION: A foundation layer 12 for controlling the crystal grain size and magnetic anisotropy of a magnetic film is formed on a substrate 11. A magnetic film consisting of a magnetic material having excellent isolating properties is formed on the foundation layer 12 as a first magnetic film 13, and a magnetic film having a vertical magnetic isotropic constant Ku in the film-surface vertical direction larger than that of the first magnetic film 13 as a second magnetic film 15 and a protective film 16 are formed on the first magnetic film 13 directly or through a nonmagnetic intermediate layer 14. Accordingly, the high S/N characteristics of a regenerative signal having the small fluctuation structure of the magnetization transition of a recording magnetic domain resulting in medium noises and having no irregular magnetic-domain structure can be obtained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a perpendicular magnetic recording medium having low reproduction noise and suitable for high-density magnetic recording, and a magnetic recording apparatus using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Currently, practically used magnetic recording systems include an N-pole and an N-pole, which are parallel to the surface of a magnetic recording medium and are magnetic poles.
This is an in-plane magnetic recording system in which magnetic recording is performed by magnetizing the poles, the S pole, and the S pole in a direction in which they face each other. In order to improve the linear recording density in in-plane magnetic recording, the residual magnetization (B
It is necessary to reduce the product of r) and the magnetic film thickness (t) to increase the coercive force. In addition, in order to reduce medium noise generated from the magnetization transition, it is necessary to orient the easy axis of the magnetic film parallel to the substrate surface and to control the crystal grain size. In order to control the crystal orientation and grain size of the magnetic thin film, an underlayer for structure control is formed between the substrate and the magnetic film.

[0003] The magnetic film mainly contains Co,
A Co alloy thin film to which Cr, Ta, Pt, Rh, Pd, Ti, Ni, Nb, Hf or the like is added is used. As the Co alloy constituting the magnetic thin film, a material having a hexagonal close-packed lattice structure (hereinafter, referred to as an hcp structure) is mainly used. The crystal has an easy axis in the c-axis, <00.1> direction, and the easy axis is oriented in the in-plane direction. In order to control the crystal orientation and grain size of the magnetic thin film, an underlayer for structure control is formed between the substrate and the magnetic film. As the underlayer, a material containing Cr as a main component and Ti, Mo, V, W, Pt, Pd or the like added thereto is used. The magnetic thin film is formed by a vacuum evaporation method or a sputtering method. As described above, in order to reduce medium noise and improve linear recording density in in-plane magnetic recording, it is necessary to reduce the product of the residual magnetization (Br) of the magnetic film and the magnetic film thickness (t). Attempts are being made to reduce the thickness of the magnetic film to 20 nm or less and to refine crystal grains. However, in such a medium, there is a very serious problem that the recording magnetization is reduced due to thermal fluctuation, which is an obstacle to high-density recording.

On the other hand, the perpendicular magnetic recording method is a method of recording in which adjacent recording bits form magnetic domains perpendicular to the recording medium surface and antiparallel to each other, and has the advantage of reducing the demagnetizing field at the boundary between recording bits. And is one of the powerful means of high-density magnetic recording.

For high-density recording by in-plane recording, the thickness of the magnetic film needs to be 20 nm or less as described above. In this case, there is a problem that the recording magnetization is lost due to thermal fluctuation. On the other hand, perpendicular recording has the advantage that the magnetic film thickness can be made thicker than in-plane recording, and the recording magnetization can be stably maintained. In perpendicular recording, in order to reduce medium noise generated from magnetization transition and improve linear recording density, the easy axis of the magnetic film is oriented perpendicular to the substrate surface,
It is necessary to control the crystal grain size.

[0006] The magnetic film contains Co as a main component.
A Co alloy thin film to which Cr, Ta, Pt, Rh, Pd, Ti, Ni, Nb, Hf or the like is added is used. As the Co alloy constituting the magnetic thin film, a material having a hexagonal close-packed lattice structure (hereinafter, referred to as an hcp structure) is mainly used. The crystal has an easy axis in the c-axis, <00.1> direction, and the easy axis is oriented in the vertical direction. The magnetic thin film is formed by a vacuum evaporation method or a sputtering method.
In order to improve the linear recording density and reproduction output when performing magnetic recording, reduce reproduction noise and improve magnetic recording characteristics,
It is necessary to improve the c-axis vertical orientation of the above-mentioned Co alloy thin film and control the crystal grain size. For this purpose, improvement measures such as forming an underlayer for structure control between the substrate and the magnetic film are required. Is conventionally performed.

However, several Gb / in ² or more, especially 10 Gb / i
In order to realize ultra-high density magnetic recording of n ² or more, it is important to reduce the noise included in the reproduction signal, in particular, the medium noise caused by the fine structure of the medium, in addition to the improvement of the linear recording density. For this purpose, it is necessary to control the thin film structure at a higher level in addition to the crystal orientation of the magnetic thin film. Conventionally, various improvements have been attempted to reduce medium noise. For example, (1) a method of segregating non-magnetic Cr in a CoCr-based alloy at a crystal grain boundary or in a grain to reduce magnetic interaction between magnetic particles, and (2) a method of controlling a sputtering gas pressure to control magnetic properties. For example, a method of isolating particles morphologically. Although the improvement of the medium structure according to the prior art has promoted the reduction of the medium noise, the reverse magnetic domain formed in the direction opposite to the magnetization direction, which is the origin of the medium noise in the perpendicular magnetic recording, and the non-magnetic domain associated therewith. The effect of reducing the ordered magnetic domains has not been obtained.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art and to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art, and to describe the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and crystal orientation of a perpendicular magnetization film formed on a substrate, or the interaction between magnetic particles. To provide a perpendicular magnetic recording medium having excellent low-noise characteristics and suitable for ultra-high-density magnetic recording, and a magnetic recording apparatus using the same by controlling a fine magnetic domain structure when magnetic recording is performed. It is in.

[0009]

According to the present invention, at least two magnetic films having different perpendicular magnetic anisotropies are formed on a substrate, and the second magnetic film on the side of the magnetic film far from the substrate surface is formed. The perpendicular magnetic anisotropy is made larger than the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy of the first magnetic film closer to the substrate surface, and the magnetic isolation of the first magnetic film closer to the substrate surface is improved. The above object is achieved by assigning roles to the respective magnetic films.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the components denoted by the same reference numerals indicate portions having the same performance characteristics.

An embodiment of the magnetic recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The magnetic recording device includes a magnetic disk 1, a magnetic head 2 for recording and reproduction, a suspension 3 for supporting the magnetic head, an actuator 4, a voice coil motor 5,
It comprises a recording / reproducing circuit 6, a positioning circuit 7, an interface control circuit 8, and the like. The magnetic disk 1 is formed on a disk-shaped substrate such as a glass substrate, a Si substrate, a NiP-coated aluminum substrate, and a carbon substrate, for controlling a structure such as crystal orientation of a magnetic film, a magnetic film formed thereon, The magnetic recording medium includes a protective film and the like, and a lubricating film is coated on the protective film. The magnetic film contains Co as a main component and C
The axis of easy magnetization of the magnetic film is oriented in the direction perpendicular to the substrate surface by using r, Pt, Ti, Ru, Ta, W, Mo, Pd, or the like. In order to obtain a perpendicular recording medium in which the axis of easy magnetization of the magnetic film is oriented perpendicular to the substrate surface, a nonmagnetic CoCr alloy, Ti, TiCr alloy or Pt, Ru, Ta, Mo, An hcp structure polycrystalline or amorphous underlayer to which Pd or the like is added or an amorphous underlayer such as Si or Ge is used.

The magnetic head comprises a slider, a magnetic pole of a magnetic recording head provided thereon, and a magnetoresistive, giant magnetoresistive, spin valve or magnetic tunnel element for reproducing a recorded signal. Is done. In order to reduce the disturbance of the recording magnetic domain at the end of the track at the time of magnetic recording, it is preferable that both ends of the track of the trailing and leading magnetic poles of the recording head are aligned. It is preferable that the track width of the reproducing head is smaller than the track width of the recording head magnetic pole in order to reduce reproduction noise generated from both ends of the recording track.

The magnetic head 2 is supported by the suspension 3 and has a function of correcting a yaw angle generated when the magnetic head moves from the inner circumference to the outer circumference of the magnetic disk.

The contents of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.

As the substrate 11, a disk-shaped Si disk having a thermally oxidized Si film formed on its surface was used. As the substrate, a glass substrate, a NiP-coated Al substrate, a carbon substrate, a polymer substrate, or the like can be used in addition to the Si disk. The cleaned substrate 11 is set in a sputtering apparatus, and 1x10 ^-8
Evacuated to Torr vacuum. Subsequently, the substrate 11 is set at 230 ° C.
To form an underlayer 12 for controlling the crystal grain size and magnetic anisotropy of the magnetic film. The underlayer 12 can be arbitrarily selected depending on the type of the magnetic film formed thereon.
As the magnetic film, a material having a hexagonal close-packed structure, a body-centered cubic lattice structure, a face-centered hexagonal lattice structure, or an orthorhombic structure can be used.
When a material with a (hexagonal close-packed structure) structure is used, it is most commonly made of a material with an hcp structure such as Ti, Ta, Ru, Hf, Co, etc., to which Cr, V, W, etc. is added. Or or Si, G
It is possible to select an amorphous material such as e. The underlayer 12 is made of a single material 1
An underlayer having a layered structure or an underlayer having a structure of two or more layers made of different materials can be used. In this embodiment, a hc-structure Ti-10 is formed on the substrate 11 as a first underlayer.
An at% Cr alloy film is formed to a thickness of 30 nm, and Co-35at
A two-layer underlayer in which a nonmagnetic alloy film made of% Cr alloy was formed to a thickness of 20 nm was used. The underlayer 12 had an hcp structure, and its <002> orientation was perpendicular to the substrate surface.

Subsequently, a magnetic film and a protective film to be a recording film were successively formed in the same vacuum in succession. In the medium A of one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2A, a thin film made of a material having good magnetic isolation is formed as the first magnetic film 13 on the underlayer 12, The second magnetic film 15 is formed by forming a magnetic film having a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy constant Ku in a direction perpendicular to the film surface larger than that of the first magnetic layer. The magnetic film is mainly composed of Co, which contains Cr, Fe, Mo, V, Ta,
At least one element selected from Pt, Si, B, Ir, W, Hf, Nb, Ru, Ni and rare earth elements or a material containing at least one element can be used. The crystal structure of the thin film constituting the first magnetic film 13 and the second magnetic film 15 may be the same or different. As the first magnetic film 13 in the medium A, for example, a Co-17at% Cr-3at% Ta alloy or a Co-
Cr, Mo, V, Ta, 15at% Cr-10at% Pt-3at% Ta alloy
A large amount of non-magnetic elements such as Pt, Si, B, Ir, W, Hf, Nb, and Ru can be used. These first magnetic films can locally segregate the nonmagnetic layer or the weak magnetic layer in the grain boundaries or within the magnetic crystal grains by adding nonmagnetic Cr or Ta. Has been confirmed by composition analysis and the like using an electron microscope. Also Pt
Can improve the magnetic anisotropy of the magnetic film. Medium A
The second magnetic film 15 is, for example, Co-50at% Pt
An alloy, a Co-20at% Pt-5at% Cr alloy, a Co-18at% Pt-10at% Cr alloy, or the like can be used. The second magnetic film 15 has less local segregation structure of the non-magnetic layer and is less magnetically isolated than the first magnetic film 13, but has a large magnetic anisotropy constant. Anisotropy constant Kua direction perpendicular to the film plane of the first magnetic layer 13 in medium A was in the range of 1x10 ⁶ erg / cc of 4x10 ⁶ erg / cc. On the other hand, the magnetic anisotropy constant Kub of the second magnetic film is 5
The range from x10 ⁶ erg / cc to 1 × 10 ⁷ erg / cc, but as the second magnetic film, for example, a Pt / Co multilayer perpendicular magnetic film or Pd / Co
When a material having a larger Ku value (1 × 10 ⁷ erg / cc or more) such as a multilayer perpendicular magnetic film is used, the effect of the present invention is further improved. Thickness of first magnetic film 13 of medium A in the present embodiment
(t1), the thickness (t2) of the second magnetic film 15 is t1 = 30 nm, respectively.
t2 was set to 20 nm. As long as the magnetic film thickness satisfies the condition of t1 ≧ t2, another combination of film thicknesses may be used. Second
On the magnetic film, a carbon (c) film having a thickness of 5 nm was formed as a protective film 16.

A medium B according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, a thin film made of a material having good magnetic isolation is formed as the first magnetic film 13 on the underlayer 12.
A magnetic film having a large perpendicular magnetic anisotropy constant Ku in the direction perpendicular to the film surface and a protective film 16 are formed thereon as a second magnetic film 15 with a non-magnetic intermediate layer 14 interposed therebetween. 1st, 2nd
The material and thickness of the magnetic film can be set in the same manner as in the medium A.
In the medium B, the non-magnetic intermediate layer 14 includes the second magnetic film 15
Has the effect of promoting the epitaxial growth of, the effect of suppressing the coarsening of the crystal grains of the second magnetic film, and the role of controlling the strength of the magnetic interaction between the first and second magnetic films. The material of the non-magnetic intermediate layer 14 can be the same as that of the underlayer 12 of the non-magnetic material.
10 nm or less is desirable. In this embodiment, the thickness is 5 nm.

For comparison, five types of media having the structures shown in FIGS. 2C to 2F were prepared. As shown in FIG. 2 (c), the comparative medium A has a magnetic film 13 made of a single material having a thickness of 50 nm and a protective layer 16 having a thickness of 50 nm via an underlayer 12 formed on a substrate 11. It is formed and formed. Here, the same material as the first magnetic film in the medium A was used as the magnetic film. As shown in FIG. 2D, the comparative medium B has a magnetic film 15 made of a single material, a thickness of 50 nm, and a protective layer 16 formed through a base layer 12 formed on a substrate 11. It is composed. Here, the same high-Ku material as the second magnetic film in the medium A was used as the magnetic film. The comparison medium C is shown in FIG.
As shown in (e), this is a medium having a structure in which a lower magnetic film 17 is formed on a substrate 11, and an upper magnetic film 18 and a protective film 16 are formed thereon in this order. Here, as the lower magnetic film 17, a material having a small coercive force (Hc) in a direction perpendicular to the film surface, for example, 10
00 Oe (Oersted) or less, and in this embodiment, CoNiReP
And a material made of NiP. The upper magnetic film 18 is made of a material having a larger coercive force (1000 to 1500 Oe) than the lower magnetic film 17 in the direction perpendicular to the film surface.
iReP was used. Here, the coercive force of the thin film was changed by changing the composition of the material. The comparison medium D is shown in FIG.
As shown in (1), a non-magnetic body 19 and a magnetic body 20 are alternately stacked. In Comparative Medium D, Pd having a thickness of 0.4 nm was used as the non-magnetic material 19, and Pd was used as a non-magnetic material 20.
A medium having a structure in which a Co-15at% Cr-3at% Ta alloy film of 2 nm was laminated for 50 periods was used. The magnetic anisotropy constant Ku of the medium in the direction perpendicular to the film surface was about 8 × 10 ⁶ erg / cc.
As shown in FIG. 2F, the comparative medium E has a structure in which the non-magnetic material 19 and the magnetic material 20 are alternately laminated as shown in FIG. 1.2 nm thick Pt,
As the magnetic material 20, a medium having a structure in which Co having a thickness of 0.4 nm was stacked for 20 periods was used. The magnetic anisotropy constant Ku of the medium in the direction perpendicular to the film surface was about 2 × 10 ⁷ erg / cc.

Table 1 shows the characteristics of the media of the present invention in comparison.

[0020]

[Table 1]

In the table, the magnetic recording uses a ring-type magnetic head (track width 2 μm, gap length 0.2 μm),
A magnetoresistive head (MR head) was used for reproduction, and the magnetic spacing during recording / reproduction (distance between the surface of the medium magnetic film and the magnetic pole of the magnetic head) was 30 nm. In Table 1,
Output half recording density D ₅₀ represents a linear recording density reproduced signal output is halved relative to the reproduced signal output of the low linear recording density (5 kFCI), viewed in Flux Chang perInch (FCI). Further, the noise N / S ₀ was represented by a value obtained by standardizing a noise measured at a linear recording density of 250 kFCI with a reproduction signal output at a low linear recording density (5 kFCI). As is clear from the comparison in Table 1, the mediums A and B of the present invention realize a higher output half-density recording density and lower noise characteristics than the conventional medium for comparison, and are suitable for ultra-high density magnetic recording. It is clear that this is a good medium.

In order to compare the causes of the low noise characteristics of the medium, the recorded magnetization state of the magnetically recorded sample was measured using a magnetic force microscope (M
FM: Magnetic Force Microscope), and the results are shown in comparison with FIG.

FIG. 3 (a) shows an example of the recording magnetization state of the medium A and medium B of the present invention shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and (b). Perpendicular magnetic recording was performed by the above-described ring type magnetic head after DC erasing was performed on the entire surface of the medium. The figure shows a state in which a recording magnetic domain 32 has been recorded in the DC erasure area 31. In the figure, the contrast between light and dark indicates that the average direction of magnetization is the same. As is clear from the figure, in the media A and B of the present invention, clear recording magnetic domains 32 are formed, the fluctuation of the magnetization transition 33 is small, and the amplitude of the fluctuation is as fine as about 30 nm. Was approximately the same size as the average diameter of the magnetic particles of this medium.
On the other hand, FIG. 3B shows the recording magnetization state of the comparative medium A.
In this case, by improving the crystal orientation of the magnetic thin film, miniaturizing the magnetic particles and improving the magnetic isolation, a clear magnetic domain with small fluctuation of the magnetization transition is formed as shown in FIG. Although it is possible, as shown in FIG.
In addition, irregular magnetic domains 34 having an irregular shape having a size twice or more the magnetic crystal grain size are formed in the recording magnetic domains 32. The irregular magnetic domains 34 are called reverse magnetic domains formed in a direction opposite to the direction of magnetization mainly due to the influence of a demagnetizing field. These irregular magnetic domains 34 cause medium noise during recording / reproduction, and Obstruct density recording. FIG. 3C shows the recording magnetization state of the comparative medium B. In this case, the magnetic anisotropy constant of the magnetic film is set large, but the magnetic interaction between the magnetic particles is strong. For this reason, the generation of irregular magnetic domains is extremely small, but the fluctuation structure of the magnetization transition is extremely large as shown in the figure, which causes an increase in medium noise and an increase in recording density. FIG. 3D shows the recording magnetization state of the comparative medium C. In this case, the fluctuation of the magnetization transition and the diameter of the irregular magnetic domain are large. FIG. 3E shows the recording magnetization state of the comparative medium E. In this case, since the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy constant Ku of the medium is as large as 2 × 10 ⁷ erg / cc, a clear recording magnetic domain having no irregular magnetic domains is formed inside the DC erase region 31 and the recording magnetic domain 32. The strong magnetic interaction between them causes the magnetization transition 33 to fluctuate greatly. FIG. 3F shows the recording magnetization state of the comparative medium D.
In this case, although the fluctuation structure of the magnetization transition is small and a clear recording magnetic domain similar to the medium of the present invention is formed, the recording magnetic domain 3
2 and irregular magnetic domains 34 are formed in the DC erase region 31.

[0024]

As explained in detail above, at least two magnetic films having different perpendicular magnetic anisotropy are formed on the substrate as in the present invention, and the second magnetic film on the side remote from the substrate surface in the magnetic film is formed. The perpendicular magnetic anisotropy of the magnetic film is made larger than the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy of the first magnetic film near the substrate surface, and the magnetic isolation of the first magnetic film near the substrate surface is improved. By assigning roles to each of the magnetic films, the fluctuation structure of the magnetization transition of the recording magnetic domain, which causes medium noise, is small, and there is no irregular magnetic domain structure. It is possible to provide a magnetic recording medium and a magnetic recording device suitable for magnetic recording with an ultra-high areal recording density.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a magnetic recording and reproducing device.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a magnetic recording medium of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a comparison diagram of recording magnetization states of a magnetic recording medium of the present invention and a comparative medium.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Magnetic disk, 2 ... Magnetic head, 3 ... Suspension, 4 ... Actuator, 5 ... Voice coil motor, 6
... Recording / reproducing circuit, 7 ... Positioning circuit, 8 ... Interface control circuit, 11 ... Plate, 12 ... Underlayer, 13 ... First magnetic film, 14 ... Nonmagnetic intermediate layer, 15 ... Second magnetic layer, 16 ...
Protective film, 17: lower magnetic film, 18: upper magnetic film, 19 ...
Non-magnetic material, 20: Magnetic material, 31: DC erasing area, 32:
Recording magnetic domain, 33: magnetization transition, 34: irregular magnetic domain.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Kenya Ito 1-280 Higashi Koigakubo, Kokubunji-shi, Tokyo Inside the Central Research Laboratory, Hitachi, Ltd. Inside the Hitachi Central Research Laboratory

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A magnetic recording medium in which an axis of easy magnetization of a magnetic film formed on a substrate is oriented in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the substrate, wherein the magnetic film is composed of at least two magnetic films,
The magnetic film is composed of magnetic films having different magnetic anisotropy constants in the direction perpendicular to the film surface, and the magnetic film farther from the substrate than the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy constant Kua of the magnetic film closer to the substrate surface. Wherein the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy constant Kub of the perpendicular magnetic recording medium is equal to or greater than that of the perpendicular magnetic recording medium. 2. An underlayer for controlling the structure of a magnetic film is formed on the substrate, on which at least two or more magnetic films having different perpendicular magnetic anisotropy constants in the direction perpendicular to the film surface are formed. The perpendicular magnetic recording medium according to claim 1, wherein: 3. An underlayer for controlling the structure of a magnetic film formed on the substrate, on which at least two or more magnetic films having different perpendicular magnetic anisotropy constants in the direction perpendicular to the film surface. 3. A non-magnetic layer is formed between a magnetic film closer to the surface and a magnetic film farther from the substrate.
The perpendicular magnetic recording medium according to claim 1. 4. The perpendicular magnetic recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the underlayer and the magnetic film formed on the substrate are films grown epitaxially. 5. The magnetic film according to claim 1, wherein said magnetic film comprises at least two magnetic films having different magnetic anisotropy constants in a direction perpendicular to the film surface, and wherein said magnetic film has a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy of a magnetic film farther from the substrate. 5. The perpendicular magnetic recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the sex constant Kub is larger than 5 × 10 ⁶ erg / cc. 6. The magnetic film according to claim 1, wherein the thickness (t1) of the magnetic film closer to the substrate surface is larger than the thickness (t2) of the magnetic film farther from the substrate (t1 ≧ t2). The perpendicular magnetic recording medium according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: 7. The magnetic film contains Co as a main component and contains Cr, Fe, Mo, V, Ta, Pt, Si, B, Ir, W, Hf, Nb, and R.
at least one selected from u, Ni and rare earth elements
The perpendicular magnetic recording medium according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the perpendicular magnetic recording medium comprises at least one or more kinds of elements. 8. A magnetic recording apparatus using the perpendicular magnetic recording medium according to claim 1. 9. A magnetic recording apparatus using the perpendicular magnetic recording medium according to claim 1 and using a ring type magnetic head as a magnetic head.