We have demonstrated 23.8 Gb/in.(2) areal density using a merged read-write
grant magnetoresistive head, with an oriented thin film medium tested with
broadband electronics and enhanced EPR4 channels. The medium had high sign
al to noise ratio metrics that was robust unto temperatures as high as 75 d
egrees C. A unique aspect of the head design at such a narrow track width i
s the simultaneous enhancement of the transducer sensitivity while keeping
product and system manufacturability in the forefront. The areal density wa
s demonstrated at a track density of 45.8 k tracks/in., using photolithogra
phically defined poles and linear density of 520 k bits/in. (C) 2000 Americ
an Institute of Physics. [S0021-8979(00)72808-8].