DUAL STRIPE MAGNETORESISTIVE HEADS FOR HIGH-DENSITY RECORDING

The design and recording performance of dual stripe magnetoresistive r ead/inductive write heads with read widths of 4 mum and write widths o f 4.5 mum are described. A linear density of 75 kfci (D50) was measure d in heads with shield-to-shield spacing of 420 nm and 70 nm of dielec tric separating the two magnetoresistive stripes. Large signal amplitu de, linear cross-track profile, and good second harmonic suppression a re observed in accordance with theoretical expectations. Readback wave forms contain little baseline shift and the ratio of positive to negat ive peak amplitudes is very close to unity. Stable signals are seen fo r heads with and without exchange stabilization. Conductor topography in the read head is replicated in the write head and can adversely aff ect cross-track behavior. Non-planarity of the write head must be cons idered in the design of shared pole magnetoresistive heads.