Patent ID: 7470474

Claim:
A magnetic recording medium comprising: a nonmagnetic substrate; and at least three layers formed on the nonmagnetic substrate and comprised of a non-magnetic orientation-controlling layer for controlling orientation of a layer formed directly thereon, a perpendicular magnetic layer having an easily magnetizing axis oriented mainly perpendicularly relative to the nonmagnetic substrate, and a protective layer; said perpendicular magnetic layer comprising two or more magnetic layers, at least one of said magnetic layers being a lower layer having Co as a main component and containing Pt and an oxide and at least another of said magnetic layers being an upper layer having Co as a main component and containing Cr and no oxide; said lower magnetic layer being directly adjacent and in contact with the orientation-controlling layer and comprising magnetic crystal grains isolated by the oxide and dispersed in the lower layer and said crystal grains vertically penetrating said lower layer in columnar forms; and said upper layer comprising magnetic crystal grains that are formed and epitaxially grown on the magnetic crystal grains of the lower layer in a ratio of one to one on an upper surface of said lower layer.