Novel sputtering-technology for grain-size control

In this paper, we present a description of a novel high-rate plasma sputtering system that allows the control of grain size in sputtered films. Additionally, the system has the advantage of a better utilization of the target material (around 80% to 90%) by eliminating the race track at the target as in conventional plasma magnetron sputtering systems. The potential and capabilities of this novel plasma sputtering device are demonstrated in this paper by the deposition of a number of different Cr thin films suitable for underlayers in thin-film media and for which we have performed a systematic X-ray and TEM analysis to determine the grain-size histograms, mean grain diameters, and their relationship to the sputtering processes

Magnetic characterization of perpendicular recording media

In this paper, we describe techniques for the magnetic characterization of perpendicular recording media. Such measurements made using traditional techniques, such as the vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) and alternating gradient force magnetometer (AGFM), have to be corrected for the sample shape demagnetizing factor, which is often found not to be equal to -4p. For measurements other than the simple hysteresis loop, such as remanence curves, this correction must be carried out in real time and we describe the method by which this can be achieved and the process for achieving the correct demagnetization of perpendicular films prior to measurements of the isothermal remanent magnetization curve. A further complication is that real perpendicular media have a soft underlayer beneath the recording layer, which swamps and confuses signals from instruments such as VSM or AGFM. Hence, we describe the construction and use of a magnetooptical Kerr effect magnetometer, which does not penetrate significantly into the soft layer and enables the perpendicular layer to be measured independently. We describe the properties of a traditional alloy perpendicular medium and a Co-Pd multilayer system, which in the latter case exhibits multiple switching behavior. We also address the issue of the effect of the soft underlayer on the coupling in similar longitudinal films and find that the presence of the underlayer induces significant additional coupling effects that may well give rise to an increase in noise in recorded signal

Measurement of the B Semileptonic Branching Fraction with Lepton Tags

We have used the CLEO II detector and 2.06fb^(-1) of ϒ(4S) data to measure the B-meson semileptonic branching fraction. The B→Xeν momentum spectrum was obtained over nearly the full momentum range by using charge and kinematic correlations in events with a high-momentum lepton tag and an additional electron. We find B(B→Xeν) = (10.49±0.17±0.43)%, with overall systematic uncertainties less than those of untagged single-lepton measurements. We use this result to calculate the magnitude of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element V_(cb) and to set an upper limit on the fraction of ϒ(4S) decays to final states other than BB̅

Search for Inclusive b → sl^+l^-

We have searched for the effective flavor changing neutral-current decays b→sl^+l^- using an inclusive method. We set upper limits on the branching ratios B(b→se^+e^-)<5.7×10^(-5), B(b→sμ^+μ^-)<5.8×10^(-5), and B(b→se^±μ^∓)<2.2×10^(-5) [at 90% confidence level (C.L.)]. Combing the dielectron and dimuon decay modes we find B(b→sl^+l^-)<4.2×10^(-5) (at 90% C.L.)

Measurement of B(D^0 → K^-π^+) Using Partial Reconstruction of B̅ → D^(*+)Xℓ^-ν̅

We present a measurement of the absolute branching fraction for D^0→K^-π^+ using the reconstruction of the decay chain B̅ →D^(*+)Xℓ^-ν̅ , D^(*+)→D^0π^+ where only the lepton and the low-momentum pion from the D^(*+) are detected. With data collected by the CLEO II detector at the Cornell Electron Storage Ring, we have determined B(D^0→K^-π^+) = [3.81±0.15(stat)±0.16(syst)]%

Two-Body B Meson Decays to η and η': Observation of B → η'K

In a sample of 6.6×10^6 produced B mesons we have observed decays B→η′K, with branching fractions B(B^+→η′K^+) = (6.5_(-1.4)^(+1.5)±0.9)×10^(-5) and B(B^0→η′K^0) = (4.7_(-2.0)^(+2.7)±0.9)×10^(-5). We have searched with comparable sensitivity for 17 related decays to final states containing an η or η′ meson accompanied by a single particle or low-lying resonance. Our upper limits for these constrain theoretical interpretations of the B→η′K signal

Search for color-suppressed B hadronic decay processes at the Υ(4S) resonance

Using 3.1fb^(-1) of data accumulated at the Υ(4S) by the CLEO-II detector, corresponding to 3.3×10^6 BB̅ pairs, we have searched for the color-suppressed B hadronic decay processes B^(0) → D^(0)(D^(*0))X^0, where X^0 is a light neutral meson π^0, ρ^0, η, η′ or ω. The D^(*0) mesons are reconstructed in D^(*0) → D^(0)π^(0) and the D^0 mesons in D^(0) → K^(-)π^(+), K^(-)π^(+)π^(0) and K^(-)π^(+)π^(+)π^(-) decay modes. No obvious signal is observed. We set 90% C.L. upper limits on these modes, varying from 1.2×10^(-4) for B^(0) → D^(0)π^(0) to 1.9×10^(-3) for B^(0) → D^(*0)η′

Observation of the Radiative Decay D^(*+) → D^+y

We have observed a signal for the decay D^(*+)→D^+γ at a significance of 4 standard deviations. From the measured branching ratio B(D^(*+)→D^+γ)/B(D^(*+)→D^+π^0) = 0.055±0.014±0.010 we find B(D^(*+)→D^+γ) = 0.017±0.004±0.003, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. We also report the highest precision determination of the remaining D^(*+) branching fractions