Magnetic recording media prepared by oblique incidence

Thin films of Fe, Ni, Co and their alloys were prepared on polymer film substrates by the oblique incidence. It was found that the easy axis of the magnetic anisotropy appeared on the film surface along the transverse direction to the plane of incidence appeared for lower incidental angles and that in higher angles (θ > 50°), it rotated into the direction parallel to the plane. The coercivity of thus obtained films increased rapidly around θ = 60°. From measurements of temperature dependence of the magnetic anisotropy appeared in the film plane, it was concluded that main origin of the anisotropy was the crystalline one.