Patent ID: 7218465

Claim:
A method of forming a magnetic transition pattern in a surface of a magnetic material, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a perpendicular magnetic recording medium including a surface comprising a layer of magnetic material including a plurality of magnetic domains extending perpendicular to said surface; (b) unidirectionally aligning said magnetic domains of said magnetic material in a first direction perpendicular to said surface; and (c) contacting said surface of said magnetic material with an imprinting surface of a stamper/imprinter to selectively re-align said magnetic domains in a second, opposite direction perpendicular to said surface and form said magnetic transition pattern therein, said stamper/imprinter comprising: (i) a non-magnetic substrate including an imprinting surface comprising a patterned plurality of spaced-apart recesses with a plurality of non-recessed areas therebetween, said patterned plurality of recesses corresponding to said magnetic transition pattern to be formed in said surface of said magnetic material; and (ii) unidirectionally permanently magnetized material filling each of said plurality of recesses, aligned in said second, opposite direction perpendicular to said surface, and having exposed surfaces substantially coplanar with said plurality of non-recessed areas.