In situ FH analysis at disk drive level

Drive-level FH evaluation is important in terms of FH control, FH adjustment and disk drive robustness inside operating hard disk drives. Characterization of FH requires simple methodology, easy implementation in addition to the general requirement to in situ FH analysis. This paper reports authors’ effort in proposing a new FH error function to evaluate harmonic ratio FH methods; and based on the error function, a new FH measurement method named multi-frequency method, which calculates FH by reading back multi-frequency pattern, is proposed to minimize FH measurement error by optimizing pattern frequencies. Such technology is also applied at disk drive level to investigate FH variation when a hard disk drive is operating under variable environmental conditions.     

Towards fly- and lubricant-contact recording

Reducing the spacing between the magnetic head and the magnetic media is of crucial importance in enabling future high-density magnetic data storage. The magnetic spacing has been reduced to a level that we have to explore new schemes for the further reduction of the spacing. This paper reports authors’ efforts towards fly- and lubricant-contact recording scheme. The targeted objective is to minimize the mean-plane spacing between the slider and disk surfaces and to allow the further reduction of the overcoat thickness. The slider will still fly over the disk surface. The read/write head part of the slider will be protruded to contact lubricant—to minimize the mean-plane mechanical spacing. The key factors for achieving such a mechanism include super-smooth slider and disk surfaces, advanced slider air-bearing design to significantly reduce flying height modulation caused by disk waviness and flatness, nano-actuator design, position feedback control scheme to control the contact depth, and so on. The preliminary experimental data confirm the feasibility of such a lubricant-contact scheme. The slider air-bearing design presented in this work also indicates the feasibility of high-performance slider design, which can well follow the disk waviness. A parameter, anti-modulation factor, is introduced for the evaluation of slider's performance in reducing flying height modulation caused by disk waviness.     

Evaluation of gap length fluctuation with harmonic analysis method

Gap length (GL) of reading head is one of the most critical parameters for high-density magnetic recording systems. A novel method is proposed for quantitative evaluation of the GL fluctuation among a batch of magneto-resistive/giant magneto-resistive heads with same structure design. The method works at head-gimbal assembly level and the evaluation can be done with any read/write analysis equipment. The testing process is based on harmonic analysis of the readback signal. The testing system consists of a selected reference head and sample heads for evaluation. A GL variation function is introduced for the evaluation of GL deviation between the reference head and sample head. This method proved to be easy for implementation and results suggest that variation of GL is considerable and has obvious effect on recording performance in high recording density systems.     

Interface solution for writing-induced nano-deformation of slider body

Writing-induced nano-deformation of slider body becomes a big concern when the mechanical spacing between the head and disk is continuously reduced to achieve higher magnetic recording areal density. Reduced head–disk spacing increases the risk of head/disk contact and causes the thermal instability in head–disk interface (HDI). This paper reports authors’ efforts towards exploration of interface solutions for writing-induced instability in ultra-low head–disk spacing magnetic system. Multi-shallow step structure with optimized rail position is analyzed and a new femto slider with such structure is explored. The results of numerical simulation indicate that the multi-shallow step structure is an effective approach in reducing the flying height change caused by the writing-induced nano-deformation of the slider body.     

Disk clamping distortion and slider crown sensitivity induced flying height variation

The disk clamping distortion and slider crown sensitivity induced flying height (FH) variation is investigated. The experimental results which were measured with in situ method were compared with simulated numerical results. Both results indicate that the disk clamping distortion has significant influence on the FH variation. Crown sensitivity of the sliders is one of the factors that determine the amplitude of the FH variation. Higher crown sensitivity sliders exhibit greater FH variation.     

Lubricant film flow and depletion characteristics at head/disk storage interface

The characteristics of lubricant film at head/disk interface(HDI) are essential to the stability of hard disk drives. In this study, the theoretical models of the lubricant flow and depletion are deduced based on Navier–Stokes(NS) and continuity equations. The air bearing pressure on the surface of the lubrication film is solved by the modified Reynolds equation based on Fukui and Kaneko(FK) model. Then the lubricant film deformations for a plane slider and double-track slider are obtained. The equation of lubricant film thickness is deduced with the consideration of van der Waals force, the air bearing pressure, the surface tension, and the external stresses. The lubricant depletion under heat source is simulated and the effects of different working conditions including initial thickness, flying height and the speed of the disk on lubricant depletion are discussed. The main factors that cause the lubricant flow and depletion are analyzed and the ways to reduce the film thickness deformation are proposed. The simulation results indicate that the shearing stress is the most important factor that causes the thickness deformation and other terms listed in the equation have little influence. The thickness deformation is dependent on the working parameter, and the thermal condition evaporation is the most important factor.     

Read/write characteristics of a new type of bit-patterned-media using nano-patterned glassy alloy

The paper reports a feasibility study of new type bit-patterned-media using a nano-patterned glassy alloy template for ultra-high density hard disk applications. The prototype bit-patterned-media was prepared using a nano-hole array pattern fabricated on a Pd-based glassy alloy thin film and a Co/Pd multilayered film filled in the nano-holes. The prepared prototype bit-patterned-media had a smooth surface and isolated Co/Pd multilayer magnetic dots, where the average dot diameter, the average dot pitch and the average dot height were 30, 60 and 19 nm, respectively. MFM (magnetic force microscope) observation revealed that each dot was magnetized in a perpendicular direction and the magnetization could reverse when an opposite magnetic field was applied. Static read/write tester measurements showed that repeated writing and reading on isolated magnetic dots were possible in combination with conventional magnetic heads and high-accuracy positioning technologies. The present study indicates that the new type of bit-patterned-media composed of nano-hole arrays fabricated on glassy alloy film template and Co/Pd multilayer magnetic dots are promising for applications to next generation ultra-high density hard disk drives.     

Sub-mm disk waviness characteristics and slider flying dynamics under thermal FH control

The flying dynamics and flying stability of a slider are the key issues at sub-5 nm flying height (FH) under thermal FH control. The resonant frequencies of current sliders are at 100 kHz level. At present linear disk velocities, the disk waviness at sub-mm level and 10 micron level can excite the resonant modes of the slider and induce FH modulation. This work uses the triple-harmonic method to monitor the dynamic FH signal during the process of thermal FH control. As the FH reduces, the same disk waviness characteristics excite larger dynamic FH modulation.     

基于多物理场的TFC磁头热传导机理及其影响因素仿真研究

为了利用微尺度热效应的热致飞高控制(TFC)磁头技术实现磁头飞行高度的精确控制,分析了工作状态下TFC滑块在多物理场综合作用下所呈现出来的传热特性及其主要影响因素,考虑了磁头磁盘间超薄气膜的稀薄效应,建立滑块导热、空气轴承表面传热、气膜流动等模型,利用有限元法,对磁头热变形作用机理及热传导特性对滑块动力学特性影响进行了仿真研究,结果表明,建立的传热模型及对雷诺方程的修正适用于求解磁头磁盘界面气膜传热问题和磁头滑块的动力学问题;影响滑块热力学性能的因素主要可以归结为加热器高度、热生成率以及材料的传热系数;空气轴承力及工作表面热变形的双重作用决定了滑块飞行高度的改变.仿真结果为磁头滑块加热器的设计及空气轴承动力学特性分析提供了依据.     

Ultra low head–disk spacing measurement using dual beam polarisation interferometry

In this paper, a dual-beam normal incidence polarisation interferometer is proposed to measure the flying height or head–disk spacing. Using this interferometer, the head–disk spacing can be measured both in magnetic real disk condition and in glass disk condition. It has the advantage of both the currently popular intensity interferometry method and the oblique incidence polarisation interferometry method. With this polarisation interferometer, not only the flying height can be measured down to contact without losing accuracy, but the pitch and roll of the head-slider can also be detected dynamically. The optical parameters of the head-slider can also be determined. Design details and experimental study are presented.     

固体浸没透镜飞行高度的气浮控制

采用固体浸没透镜的光存储方法是提高光存储密度的比较实用的近场光存储方法,而严格控制SIL下底面与光存储介质之间的亚波长级距离是此光存储系统正常工作的前提.本文采用电容法测量SIL的飞行高度,采用弹性悬臂将SIL加载在转盘表面上,转盘以不同速度转动时SIL将悬浮在不同的高度.计算机首先采集到SIL的飞行高度信息,再与设定的飞行高度作比较,根据比较结果调整转盘转速,从而达到调整SIL飞行高度的目的.采用此方法,可以动态地将SIL的下底面控制在距高速转动的转盘表面上150～600 nm范围内的一定高度上.     

Segregation of controlled and failed heads using an integration of noise amplitudes in a limited range of harmonic frequency

In this report, two new testing parameters; applied-field integrated noise amplitude (AFINA) and no-field integrated noise amplitude (NFINA) are proposed. The AFINA is characterized by using a fast Fourier transform (FFT) technique to summarize noise amplitudes in a range of 2–20 kHz harmonic frequency whilst the NFINA is characterized by gathering noise amplitudes with no external field. It is clearly seen that noisy and good heads can be successfully separated and found that the AFINA of controlled heads will be normally be less than 10 mV whereas that of failed heads will be more than 10 mV. The statistic results show a 95% confidential interval which is acceptable in manufacturing.     

Effect of pattern shape on etching wall profile in slider fabrication

The effect of pattern shape on etching wall profile in slider fabrication is studied. The testing results show: (1) the wall profile of round pattern is steeper than that of long rectangular; (2) for round patterns, the smaller the radius is, the steeper the wall profile is; (3) the profile of outer angle is steeper than that of inner angle. The flying height offset caused by wall profile with different shapes can be 8% of total flying height, so it is necessary to consider the effect of pattern shape on etching wall profile in ABS design, especially for ultra low flying height slider.     

太赫兹互补金属氧化物半导体场效应管探测器理论模型中扩散效应研究

针对基于经典动力学理论传统模型中忽略扩散效应的问题,通过对基于玻尔兹曼理论的场效应管传输线模型的理论分析,建立了包含扩散效应的太赫兹互补金属氧化物半导体(CMOS)场效应管探测器理论模型,研究扩散效应对场效应管电导及响应度的影响.同时,将此模型与忽略了扩散效应的传统模型进行了对比仿真模拟,给出了两种模型下的电流响应度随温度及频率变化的差别.依据仿真结果,并结合3σ原则明确了场效应管传输线模型中扩散部分省略的依据和条件.研究结果表明:扩散部分引起的响应度差异大小主要由场效应管的工作温度及工作频率决定.其中工作频率起主要作用,温度变化对差异大小影响较为微弱;而对于工作频率而言,当场效应管工作频率小于1 THz时,模型中的扩散部分可以忽略不计;而当工作频率大于1 THz时,扩散部分不可省略,此时场效应管模型需同时包含漂移、散射及扩散三个物理过程.本文的研究结果为太赫兹CMOS场效应管理论模型的精确建立及模拟提供了理论支持.     

Head–disk interface problems in first-surface near-field optical recording with flying optical head

Near-field recording (NFR) technology using a flying optical head is applied for high density optical data storage. Diamond-like carbon (DLC) film and PFPE lubricant film are coated on utmost NFR disk to reduce the tribological problems. A contamination at the head–disk interface (HDI), especially on a solid immersion lens (SIL) is observed. The contaminants are composed of dust materials from the surroundings and lubricant materials from a disk surface. The contaminants are supposed to be condensed by heat from a writing laser beam at the HDI. To avoid the contamination problem, a cover-layer is coated and a focal plane moved under the cover-layer from the HDI. First-surface near-field recording configuration can be modified by laminating a cover-layer, which enhances the possibility of a practical application with a media removability function.     

磁光盘光头瞬态光学特性研究

本文研究了磁光盘光头的瞬态光学特性,其结果实现了光头部件的最优化设计。     

基于强度干涉原理的双光路动态测量方法

在近场光存储方案中,头盘间距动态测控技术是近场光存储理论和技术的实用化。根据近场光学头的飞行特点,提出了一种基于光强干涉原理的测量系统,重点介绍了其测量原理和标定方法。采用双光路结构来提高测量分辨率,利用光偏振特性来消除反馈光对信号光的干扰。通过对系统性能的分析和试验表明,动态特性达到了500kHz,测量分辨率高于1nm,可满足系统高精度动态测试的要求。     

On the advanced lapping process in the precision finishing of thin-film magnetic recording heads for rigid disc drives

Precision abrasive finishing is a key technology in the manufacture of thin-film magnetic heads (TFH) for rigid disc drives. The read and write microdevices of the recording heads are fabricated on ceramic substrates (wafers) using thin-film processing technology. After wafer processing, the substrates are sliced to individual bars (containing 46 heads per bar) using a diamond dicing wheel. They are then finished using an advanced lapping process with individual head close-loop control (sensor height control for the control of the material removal as well as for the end point detection). Finally, the bars are diced into individual heads (called sliders) using a diamond dicing wheel. The slider abrasive finishing process critically affects the magnetic, electrical and mechanical performance of the recording heads. This paper presents the results of some experimental studies based on the state-of-the-art abrasive finishing of recording heads, taking into account the critical challenges involved, namely the sensor height control, pole-tip recession (PTR) (metal dishing), alumina recession (AluR) (oxide erosion), trailing-edge profile, polishing uniformity, smearing, surface roughness (scratches) and air-bearing surface (ABS) flatness. The relative advantages of the fixed- versus free-abrasive processes are also discussed. The results of chemical-mechanical fixed-abrasive lapping/nanogrinding to achieve near-zero PTR (to minimize magnetic space loss) and low AluR (to reduce flying height variation) to meet the high areal density head requirements are also presented. PACS 60; 81; 81.20; 81.05.Cy; 81.05.Jc     

Polarisation interferometry flying height testing

The in-depth analyses of polarisation interferometry flying height testing are presented. The drawbacks of the oblique incidence polarisation interferometry method are discussed. The application of the dual-beam normal incidence polarisation interferometry method is illustrated. It is shown that with this normal incidence polarisation interferometer, not only the flying height can be measured down to contact without losing accuracy, but the optical parameters of the head-slider can also be determined.     

Model of a disk magnetohydrodynamic channel using pure inert gases and Faraday current commutation

The purpose of this experiment was to find a way to increase the effective conductivity in a nonequilibrium MHD channel. The working material used was inert gas without admixtures of alkali metals. The experiment was carried out in a disk MHD channel coupled to a shock tube, with radial expansion of the gas and an axial magnetic field. An inset was located in a sector of the disk channel with electrodes, to which a load was connected to extract power into an external circuit. Voltage-current characteristics were recorded in this experiment along with the structure of luminous nonuniformities. The results of the experiment showed that as ionization instabilities develop, the effective conductivity of the plasma increases with increasing magnetic induction, and the extracted power density for fields above critical turns out to be roughly 30% higher than that calculated by assuming that the conductivity is a constant. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 67, 12–15 (December 1997)