THIN SPACING ANALYSIS FOR HEAD-TAPE INTERFACE

Very thin head-tape spacing, combining contact and floating conditions , is investigated for high density magnetic recording. A generalized l ubrication equation, based on a linearized Boltzmann equation, is coup led with the tape deformation equation for analysis. Tape-surface roug hness is also taken into account in the lubrication equation. The aver age flow model is adopted to analyzing tape-surface roughness. For ver y thin spacing conditions, it is found that the spacing based on the l inearized Boltzmann equation is smaller than that based on first-order slip flow, and larger than that based on second-order slip flow. It i s also found that considering tape-surface roughness reduces the calcu lated minimum spacing. Analytical results agreed with the experimental ones.