Patent ID: 7881014

Claim:
A patterned magnetic recording medium comprising: a plurality of patterned magnetic recording domains arranged at regular intervals on a substrate, wherein each of the magnetic recording domains is a multi-layer laminate which is disposed vertically with respect to the substrate, wherein each respective one of the magnetic recording domains comprises: a first ferromagnetic layer; a second ferromagnetic layer; and a soft magnetic layer interposed between the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer; a first non-magnetic layer disposed between the first ferromagnetic layer and the soft magnetic layer; and a second non-magnetic layer disposed between the second ferromagnetic layer and the soft magnetic layer; wherein the soft magnetic layer suppresses magnetic interaction between the respective one of the magnetic recording domains and neighboring ones of the magnetic recording domains relative to magnetic interaction that would occur if the soft magnetic layer were not disposed in the respective one of the magnetic recording domains.