Quantum magnetic disk

A quantum magnetic disk (QMD) - a new paradigm for magnetic recording - is proposed and fabricated. The QMD consists of pre-fabricated single-domain magnetic structures that have an identical shape and are uniformly embedded in a nonmagnetic disk. Each single-domain structure has a quantized magnetic moment and can store one bit of information. The QMD has a number of advantages over the conventional disk and is suitable for ultra-high density recording. Two processes based on electron beam nanolithography and other nanofabrication technologies have been developed to fabricate QMDs. QMDs with a density of 65 Gbits/in(2) - over two orders of magnitude greater than the state-of-the-art magnetic storage density - have been demonstrated. A method for mass production of QMD without employing lithography is discussed.