Extensive thermally assisted recording measurements were performed on isotr
opic longitudinal media. The dynamic coercivity decrease provided by therma
l assistance was quantified by spin stand measurements. Thermally assisted
recording performance was found to equal the performance of conventional (n
onthermally assisted) recording at significantly reduced values of write cu
rrent. This reduction in write current is consistent with the coercivity de
crease that occurs during the thermally assisted writing process.