We report a pulsed laser deposition (PLD) growth of VMn/CoCrPt bilayer with a magnetic coercivity (H-c) of 2.2 kOe and a grain size of 12 mn. The effects of VMn underlayer on magnetic properties of CoCrPt layer were studied. The coercivity, H,, and squareness, S, of VMn/CoCrPt bilayer, is dependent on the thickness of VMn. The grain size of the CoCrPt film can also be modified by laser parameters. High laser fluence used for CoCrPt deposition produces a smaller grain size. Enhanced H, and reduced grain size in VMn/CoCrPt is explained by more pronounced surface phase segregation during deposition at high laser fluence. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.