Micromagnetic simulation of high speed head dynamics in perpendicular recording

Abstract

The continuous increase in storage density and data rates in magnetic recording requires the reduction of the typical dimensions of magnetic write and read heads. As a result an ever more detailed understanding of the behavior of magnetic recording heads and their interaction with the recording media (and the SUL in perpendicular recording systems) and the underlying physical effects is required. As the size of the write pole shrinks, it becomes important to consider dynamic micromagnetic effects, which take into account the domain structure in the write head. In this paper, we have used a magnetic recording head model, which is based on a parallel finite element micromagnetics package, to study the magnetization reversal process in a single-pole-type (SPT) perpendicular recording head and the resulting write field dynamics. The model includes the full head structure including the return pole and a discretized micromagnetic SUL while the magnetic recording medium has been omitted. Finally, the effect of the head motion with respect to the magnetic recording media has to be taken into account.