Micromagnetic simulation of a flux guide for a read head with sub-100 nm resolution

Large scale 3D micromagnetic simulations are performed on single pole read heads with pole tip cross sections of 45 x 45 and 100 x 200 nm. It is shown that tips with these dimensions have a much higher output than predicted b y an analytical theory using the reciprocity theorem. The larger of these t ips still behaves in a relatively soft manner and has an output waveform sh ape very close to the one predicted by the analytical model. The response o f the small tip however is hysteretic. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physi cs. [S0021-8979(00)81808-3].