An apparatus includes a thermally insulating substrate, an energy absorbing layer on the thermally insulating substrate, and a flash annealed magnetic layer on the energy absorbing layer. The flash annealed magnetic layer may be configured for data storage. A method includes providing a thermally insulating substrate, depositing an energy absorbing layer on the thermally insulating substrate, depositing a magnetic layer on the energy absorbing layer, and flash annealing the magnetic layer.