Micromagnetic modeling of the thermomagnetic recording process

A thermally-activated micromagnetic model has been developed to model the thermomagnetic recording process. In this model the crystal anisotropy, K/sub u/, and saturation magnetization, M/sub s/, of each grain depend on temperature. To model the thermomagnetic recording process a high-coercivity, H/sub c/, medium is heated with a thermal profile from a laser so that the medium is near its Curie point. In this state transitions are written with a Karlquist type write head. Thermomagnetically-written transitions are distinguished by curved transitions and sharp track-edges with no erase bands. Results are presented which discuss the steps required to optimize the thermomagnetic recording process.