Recording head

Fig. 2. Basic hysteresis properties for (a) a recording head and for (b) a magnetic medium. See text.

Table 3. Properties of Materials Intended for Recording-Head Applications ...

PR = perpendicular recording LR = longitudinal recording HFRH = high frequency recording heads RH/HDTV = recording heads for high definition television and Pa = perpendicular perpendicular anisotropy. 

Goglia, P. R., Berkowitz, J., Hoehn, J., Xidis, A., and Stover, L., Diamond-Like Carbon Applications in High Density Hard Disc Recording Heads," Diamond Rel. Mat., Vol. 10, 2001, pp. 271-277. 

Sin, K. and Wang, S. X., FeN/ AIN Multilayer Films for High Moment Thin Film Recording Heads," IEEE Trans. Magn., Vol. 32,1996,pp. 3509-3511. 

Gao, R, "Application of Ultra-Fine Diamond Slurry in Polishing Magnetic Recording Heads, Master Thesis, Tsinghua University, 2001. 

As physical structures used in technological applications have been reduced in size, there has been an increasing need to understand the limiting processes of adhesion and to try to minimize them. For example, adhesion due to humidity is known to have a major effect on the durabihty and friction forces experienced at the recording head/disk interface. Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) are also detrimentally affected by nanoscale adhesion, with their motion being perturbed or prevented. 

Another area with a large research activity is also related to computer technology. It is electrodeposition of magnetic alloys for thin-film recording heads and magnetic storage media. Here new magnetic materials are needed that have properties superior to those of electrodeposited NiEe (Permalloy). These activities are reviewed by Andricacos and Romankiw (25) and Romankiw (32). 

Next comes the sputter deposition of the alumina gap layer, made about 0.1 to 0.5 fim thick. The gap layer thickness greatly affects the linear resolution and side read/write effects of the recording heads. 

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