Error rate drift caused by rubbing noise in ferrite read heads

Some combinations of DDS-3 tape drive and cassette experience a rapid incre ase in error rate, followed by a gradual spontaneous recovery, when a secti on of tape is repeatedly used. This behaviour is caused by a change in the level of rubbing noise resulting from changes to the surface of the read he ad. This paper describes an investigation into the nature of this noise, an d in particular the effect of head-tape speed on its frequency spectrum. In some cases, standing-wave vibrations in the head structure are excited by periodic ripple features that form on the surface of the ferrite read heads . (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.