PERPENDICULAR MAGNETIC RECORDING MEDIUM

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a perpendicular magnetic recording medium having high recording resolution, high signal stability, high writing performance and excellent characteristic uniformity. SOLUTION: In the perpendicular magnetic recording medium formed by sequentially layering at least an underlayer 4, a magnetic recording layer 5 and a protective layer 6 on a non-magnetic base body 1, the magnetic recording layer 5 includes at least a structure formed by sequentially layering a first magnetic layer (5-1), an exchange coupling control layer (5-2) and a second magnetic layer (5-3), the first and the second magnetic layers have constants (Ku) of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy different from each other, at least the magnetic layer having a higher Ku value in both magnetic layers includes a non-magnetic oxide, the exchange coupling control layer (5-2) includes a crystalline metal or an alloy and an oxide and the crystalline metal or the alloy is Pt or Pd or an alloy containing those or an alloy comprising an element selected from Co, Ni and Fe and a non-magnetic metal. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT