CHARACTERISTICS OF HIGH-DENSITY RECORDING USING A SINGLE-LAYER PERPENDICULAR MEDIUM AND A MERGED MR HEAD

The combination of a merged MR head and a single-layer perpendicular m edium is a promising technology for high-density recording. This paper describes a system that provides high-linear-density recording (over 150 kFCI) without requiring a contact recording method. Both the large magnetic anisotropy and the large crystalline orientation of a Cr-ric h Co72Cr28 medium hold out the promise of higher linear density. The l arge output signal also shows the possibility of increasing the track density. The baseline shift for narrow track widths is an issue that m ust be solved by equalization before this system can be used to realiz e future hard disk drive products.