Evaluation of high data rate disk drive recording subsystem

Abstract

An effort has been made to evaluate disk drive components at high data rates. Fully functional write-head/media components to 2.6 Gbit/s have been demonstrated in spin-stand testing and magnetic force microscopy characterizations. In addition, the drive front-end electronics examined possess complete functionality up to 4.0 Gbit/s without significant performance degradation, which is consistent with electric modeling results. Furthermore, our experimental data clearly indicate that the pre-amp’s performance at high frequency is becoming a limiting factor to achieving an ultrahigh data rate in present write-head/media designs. The magnetic moment on write gap edges for certain recording heads shows signs of becoming insensitive to following the write current switching speed at ultrahigh frequency.

Magnetic field measurement for analysis of GHz response in SPT head using electron beam tomography

“…High-frequency recording has been investigated using spin-stand testing, and head response issues have been identified [1,2]. Because the recording performance depends on many parameters, direct measurement of the limiting factors is essential.…”