Nanotechnology: A data storage perspective

The exponential increase in areal density of recording of magnetic storage devices has reduced the recorded bit size to nano length scale. This has pr ofound implications on all aspects of the storage system including recordin g device modeling, materials, fabrication, metrology, characterization, and tribology of the head-disk interface. In this paper, the impact of nanotec hnology in extending the data storage device storage systems is explored wi th an emphasis on the fabrication and characterization of nanolayers and st ructures (C) 1999 Acta Metallurgica Inc.