RECORDING PERFORMANCE OF LONGITUDINAL BARIUM FERRITE THIN-FILM MEDIA

The high density recording characteristics of barium ferrite thin film media have been investigated. High levels of overwrite are achieved. Media microstructures have been identified to have a close relation to the noise behavior in the barium ferrite thin films. A linear increas e in noise spectra is observed, indicating the existence of transition noise. In addition, positive Delta M peaks are seen in all longitudin al barium ferrite samples. Magnetostatic interactions rather than exch ange interactions among neighboring grains are believed to be the caus e of the positive Delta M. To reduce media noise, a reduction in both grain size and grain aspect ratio is necessary.