Thermomagnetic recording in amorphous TbFeCo films on patterned substrates

Magnetization reversal and thermomagnetic recording in amorphous TbFeCo films on patterned glass substrates were studied. Two types of patterns were examined: 1/spl times/1 /spl mu/m/sup 2/ raised and lowered square patches. Pinning of the domain walls at the side-walls of the patches was observed. Thermomagnetic recording experiments confirm the ability of patterned substrates to confine recorded domains within boundaries defined by the side-walls.