WRITING AND READING AT HIGH DATA RATES

This paper describes the analysis of an MR read/write channel for high data rate magnetic recording. Using current, industrially available c omponents, characterized to frequencies > 1 GHz, data rate limiting fa ctors such as bandwidth, write current overshoot, inadequate write fie ld swing, write field rise time and excessive write field zero-crossin g shift are investigated. From this, conclusions can be drawn about th e maximum attainable data rate (in casu 16 MB/s). For the components u sed in this study, the eddy current damping in the yoke of the inducti ve write head turned out to be the major restriction in achieving high er data rates.