UC San Diego

Experimental and numerical methods were used to investigate the flyability of magnetic recording sliders on discrete track recording media. Experiment techniques were developed to study the hysteresis of "touch-down" and "take-off" of magnetic recording sliders on discrete track recording media. The slider dynamics on discrete track recording media was compared with that on conventional smooth (flat) media. Various experimental methods were used to study the contact behavior, wear characteristics and tribological characteristics of discrete recording media. Advantages and disadvantages of discrete track recording media were investigated and compared with conventional smooth media. To improve flyability and mechanical properties of discrete track recording media, planarization of discrete track media was employed