Perpendicular magnetic recording technology at 230 Gbit/in

A perpendicular recording system that allows areal densities beyond 200 Gbit/in² has been designed and tested to investigate the major challenges in perpendicular magnetic recording. The integrated write/read head has a trailing shield to improve the write head field gradient and a conventional CIP–GMR reader. The medium is a low-noise CoPtCr-based oxide medium with a CoTaZr soft underlayer. On track byte error rates at ∼ 50 Mb/s are better than 10⁻⁴ at ∼1000 kbpi. Using a 15% off-track criterion at 10⁻² byte error rate, track densities between 200–240 ktpi are realized, yielding areal densities of 210–233 Gbit/in². High-resolution magnetic force microscopy (hrMFM) has been employed to investigate the write characteristics of these heads with improved cross-track resolution. Using a quantitative analysis method, many parameters, such as transition curvature and transition width, are estimated from the hrMFM image. Significant transition curvature is found, which increases the width of the read head response to a transition, T₅₀, by 2–3 nm.These results give insights into the recording physics of perpendicular recording and in particular point out improvements required for achieving even higher areal densities.     

Bidirectional recording performance of a perpendicular evaporated Co–CoO tape

It is the first report on the recording performance of a perpendicular metal evaporated (ME) tape measured with a giant magnetoresistive head. To solve the application difficulty of oblique evaporated tape media to linear scan tape systems, a perpendicular evaporated Co–CoO tape was proposed instead. The prepared sample showed perpendicular anisotropy with coercivity of 107.3 kA/m, M_rt of 3.9 mA and squareness of 0.25. Identical recording characteristics were obtained for both head-media moving directions, which enables the application of perpendicular evaporated Co–CoO tape to linear scan tape systems. The better carrier-to-noise ratio was also confirmed by comparison with a current advanced product of metal particulate tape, which can realize the higher recording density of linear scan tape systems using ME tape.     

CPP-GMR heads with a current screen layer for high areal density

We investigated the potential for high-areal-density recording in current-perpendicular-to-plane giant magnetoresistive (CPP-GMR) heads with a current screen layer. The current screen layer is a nano-oxide layer with confined current paths. We fabricated the current screen CPP-GMR heads with a narrow sensor width of 40–50 nm, a high MR ratio of 17%, and low-resistance-area (RA) product of 0.2 Ω μm². The fabricated heads showed a sufficiently high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 30–40 dB. No extra noise, such as spin-torque noise, was observed. Linear density of 1360 kFCI from the head with the magnetic read width of 45 nm was obtained. Distribution of sensor resistance due to nano-hole area distribution in the current screen layer can be reduced with low-RA film. Spin-torque noise can be suppressed by reducing the current-induced field and controlling the shape anisotropy. Accordingly, the current screen CPP-GMR head is a promising candidate that has the potential for high-areal-density recording.     

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.     

Preparation and recording characteristics of granular-type perpendicular magnetic recording media with thin intermediate layer

Granular-type media with thin Ru intermediate layer were prepared on a highly oriented high-B_s FeCo soft underlayer (SUL). A CoPt–TiO₂ recording layer on a Ru intermediate layer of only 2 nm had high-crystal orientation, high H_c of 6.5 kOe, and a high squareness ratio (SQ) of 0.99. The magnetic property of the SUL was also good. The recording performance was measured for the media with different Ru intermediate thicknesses by using a single-pole-type (SPT) head. The media had large reproduced output even for the Ru intermediate layer thickness of 2 nm.     

Design and recording simulation of 1 Tbit/in patterned media

Design of patterned media for an areal density of 1 Tbit/in² with thermal stability is presented based on perpendicular M–H loops of the media. Required perpendicular magnetic anisotropy was estimated to be achieved with known materials. However, it is indicated that magnetostatic interaction between the dots becomes a limiting factor for achieving higher densities. Recording simulation using a Karlqvist pole head on the designed media exhibited possibility of the recording of 1 Tbit/in². Shift margin of the write head in the cross-track direction was found to be increased with elongated dots in the down-track direction. Recording simulation with an FEM-analyzed field of a side-shielded multi-surface pole head exhibited successful recording with increased cross-track shift margins as well as the effect of the elongated dot shape.     

Fe–Pt–MgO stacked films for perpendicular magnetic recording

Fe–Pt–MgO stacked storage layer constructed by [Fe–Pt/Fe–Pt–MgO/Fe–Pt] trilayered structure was proposed for a next-generation high-density perpendicular magnetic recording medium. The Fe–Pt–MgO composite middle layer was prepared by sputtering the Fe–Pt–MgO composite-type target including relatively large MgO content of 50 vol%. The Fe–Pt(0 0 1) seed layer deposited on MgO underlayer was effective in forming the ordered fct(0 0 1) phase for the Fe–Pt–MgO composite film. The reduction of transition jitter noise and the suppression of signal overlap were observed in the stacked-type medium with the Fe–Pt–MgO middle layer of 1 nm thickness. The improvement of recording properties is attributed to the pinning effect of magnetic domain wall by the Fe–Pt–MgO composite layer inserted into the middle of pure Fe–Pt storage layer.     

Adjacent-track interference in ultrahigh-density perpendicular recording system

In perpendicular recording system, the increase of track density is crucial to achieve ultrahigh areal density. At higher track densities, the adjacent-track interference (ATI) arises. In this work, ATI is studied by micromagnetic simulation. Two adjacent tracks are written successively. The track–track distance (TTD) and head–medium spacing are varied to analyze the write and read performance of these two tracks and to investigate the influence of ATI on recording performance. Simulation results indicate that when a track is written first, it is less vulnerable to ATI. ATI is stronger in a track with higher linear recording density. The head–medium spacing plays a significant role in the achievement of low ATI in perpendicular recording system. If the head–medium spacing is reduced to 5 nm, areal recording density above 540 Gb/in² could be realized.     

Micromagnetic recording field analysis of fast-switching single-pole-type heads for bit-patterned media

A Landau–Lifshitz–Gilbert (LLG) micromagnetic analysis of the recording field of single-pole-type (SPT) heads was carried out. The whole volume comprising the SPT head and the double-layered medium was treated micromagnetically using the finite-difference method with cubic cells as small as 5 nm, giving a total number of cells of more than 10.8 million. A parallelized fast Fourier transform (FFT) method was used to solve this large-scale problem. Dynamic recording fields were calculated for various head structures and head materials. The timing (synchronization) between the dynamic head field and land location in bit-patterned media (BPM) is discussed and the design methodology is discussed for a fast-switching SPT head.     

Magnetization behavior of hard/soft-magnetic composite pillar

Hard/soft-magnetic composite pillar array medium is proposed for ultra-high-density recording media. Magnetization reversal process for a single hard/soft-magnetic composite pillar in the medium is calculated using the Landau–Lifshitz–Gilbert equation. Magnetization reversal of the soft-magnetic unit helps the magnetization reversal for the hard-magnetic unit, and the effective coercivity for the hard-magnetic unit is greatly reduced. Thereby saturation recording to the high-K_u-hard-magnetic material used for perpendicular magnetic recording will be realizable.     

Optical head with metal cladding in asymmetrical butted-grating structure for small thermal spot in laser-assisted magnetic recording

A planar near-field optical head with a high optical efficiency of 12.9% (3.2 times higher than that of our previous design) for laser-assisted magnetic recording is described. In this head, a slab-type waveguide with a narrow core is butt-coupled into a one-sided multilayer thin-film stack. Metal cladding is used in the core because of its high optical efficiency due to surface plasmon excitation. To keep production costs low, we use only two layers for the side part, which act as a two-index-step lens that couples light in the side part into a core of the central part. We optimized the parameters of this optical head and recording medium by means of an optical simulator using the finite-difference time-domain method and a thermal simulator. The calculated full width half maximum (FWHM) optical spot size on the recording medium is 24 × 47 nm² and the thermal spot size is 80 × 88 nm² (FWHM).     

3-D FEM analysis of thermal degradation in writing and reading characteristics of a perpendicular magnetic head

In order to achieve high-density recording, the detailed behavior of thermal degradation should be investigated. In this paper, the degradation of magnetization of high-density recording medium is examined using the 3-D finite element method (FEM) combined with the modeling of Stoner–Wohlfarth (SW) particles and Neel–Arrhenius switching probability. It is shown that the anisotropy field H_k suppressed the thermal degradation and the saturation magnetization M_s enhances it. The thermal degradation is also changed by the amplitude of magnetization.     

近场记录光盘的写入能量的研究

近场记录光盘是一种新的光盘记录技术,它有二个特点：（１）极高的记录密度;（２）很高的寻道速度。本文介绍了近场光盘技术的特性;提出了近场光盘记录技术中动态条件下读写中的写入能量地头盘间的能量传输问题进行了仿真计算。     

Thermally assisted magnetic recording with bit-patterned media to achieve areal recording density beyond 5 Tb/in

Thermally assisted magnetic recording (TAR) with bit-patterned media was investigated by micromagnetic simulation. The media were assumed to be FePt layers. The effective head-field margin as well as the increase in temperature margin and down-track shift margin was investigated. Conditions of the head and medium that lead to a recording density beyond 5 Tb/in² were proposed.     

Optical and Thermal Simulator for Laser-assisted Magnetic Recording

“Laser-assisted magnetic recording”, in which a recording media is heated by a laser beam while writing data, is attracting attention as a technology that enables a recording density of 1 Tb/in.². There exists another technology for media in which the recording layer is constructed with many small projections that enable high magnetic coercivity. This is called “patterned media”. For developing hard disk drives using these methods, we developed a simulator that analyzes the optical intensity distribution from the optical head for laser-assisted recording and the temperature profile on the patterned media. The simulator calculates the optical model using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. The thermal analysis of the three-dimensional model allows fast calculations using the alternating direction implicit (ADI) method. The heat source distribution data for thermal analysis is calculated in order to use the results of optical analysis. The optical and thermal analyses of the laser-assisted recording model were investigated with the simulator.     

Microstructure and switching mechanism of stacked CoCrPt–SiO2 perpendicular recording media

Perpendicular magnetic recording media consisting of two stacked CoCrPt–SiO₂ recording layers incorporating different O₂ content in each layer were studied. The samples used Ru intermediate layers. With increasing O₂ levels in the lower recording layer, the samples exhibited marginal change in the crystallographic texture, and superior overall magnetic properties such as higher coercivity and improved exchange decoupling. However, the media grain size remained unchanged. Investigations into the switching mechanism by means of virgin and isothermal remanence magnetization measurements showed the predominance of Stoner–Wohlfarth coherent reversal modes in all samples. The thermal stability dropped slightly. A model that describes the evolution of the microstructure in stacked perpendicular recording media is presented to understand these observations.     

Recording head field for SPT head combined with hard/soft magnetic composite pillar array media

The head field distribution for hard/soft magnetic composite pillar array media (CPA media) is significantly different from that of the conventional patterned media. The head field distribution for a CPA media-single-pole-type (SPT) head system which assumes 1 Tbits/in² recording is calculated by the three dimensional finite elements method. One of the features of the system is that a magnetic flux concentrates in a hard magnetic unit. The system is found to yield 80% of the field strength of SPT head and continuous SUL media system.     

Drive-based recording analyses at >800 Gfc/in using shingled recording

Since the introduction of perpendicular recording, conventional perpendicular scaling has enabled the hard disk drive industry to deliver products ranging from ∼130 to well over 500 Gb/in² in a little over 4 years. The incredible areal density growth spurt enabled by perpendicular recording is now endangered by an inability to effectively balance writeability with erasure effects at the system level. Shingled magnetic recording (SMR) offers an effective means to continue perpendicular areal density growth using conventional heads and tuned media designs. The use of specially designed edge-write head structures (also known as ‘corner writers’) should further increase the AD gain potential for shingled recording. In this paper, we will demonstrate the drive-based recording performance characteristics of a shingled recording system at areal densities in excess of 800 Gb/in² using a conventional head.Using a production drive base, developmental heads/media and a number of sophisticated analytical routines, we have studied the recording performance of a shingled magnetic recording subsystem. Our observations confirm excellent writeability in excess of 400 ktpi and a perpendicular system with acceptable noise balance, especially at extreme ID and OD skews where the benefits of SMR are quite pronounced. We believe that this demonstration illustrates that SMR is not only capable of productization, but is likely the path of least resistance toward production drive areal density closer to 1 Tb/in² and beyond.     

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.     

The microstructure and magnetic properties of electrodeposited Co–Pt thin films on Ru buffer layer

For high-density magnetic recording media, this study examined the crystal structure and the texture of electrodeposited cobalt–platinum (Co–Pt) films on Ru buffer layer. A 15-nm-thick Co–Pt film exhibited very high out-of-plane coercivity and squareness, which were 6248 Oe and 0.89, respectively. The coercivity, H_c, of Co–Pt films grown on Ru buffer layer decreased significantly with increasing thickness, possibly due to the lattice misfit of 5.4% between Co–Pt and Ru, leading to the decrease of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) of Co–Pt films as indicated by the observed hexagonal-closed-packed (HCP) (1 1¯ 0 1) plane of Co–Pt films. According to nano beam diffraction pattern (NBDP), however, Co–Pt film grown on Ru layer of HCP exhibited mixed HCP and FCC phases. Also, cross-sectional TEM image suggests that the high PMA may result from the columnar structure of physically isolated Co–Pt grains with the c-axis perpendicular to the film plane.