Perpendicular magnetic recording

Patent Granted Perpendicular magnetic recording media enabling high-density recording and reproduction of information, as well as a production process thereof, and a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus, are provided. Perpendicular magnetic recording media, having at least a soft magnetic underlayer and perpendicular magnetic recording layer on a disc-shaped nonmagnetic substrate, in which the soft magnetic underlayer has at least two soft magnetic layers, and Ru or Re between the two soft magnetic layers, are provided; the easy axis of magnetization of the soft magnetic underlayer has a desired direction.