Analysis of dropout peakshift in magnetic tape recording

Dropout is the term used to describe sporadic and long-duration signal loss in a tape recording system due to media defects or debris generated by the head media interface, The main mechanism believed to cause dropouts is spa cing loss during writing and/or reading, Dropouts are a major limiting fact or in the performance of the magnetic tape channel, which makes understandi ng them a critical issue for future density improvements, In this paper, we analyze the peakshift behavior of signals during a dropout, which constitu tes a significant but unexpected side effect. This peakshift was found to b e caused during the recording process. Both experimental analysis and model ing have been used in this study.