Theory, fabrication and testing of dual track complimentary type of thin-film recording heads for perpendicular magnetic recording system

Abstract

A new type of recording head for a perpendicular magnetic recording system, a dual track complimentary (DTC) type of thin-film head, was proposed in this study. The magnetic core of the head has a ‘‘U’’ character shape which is provided with ‘‘a pair of’’ recording tracks and the efficiency to detect flux reversal in the media will become high enough to achieve high linear density. The two-dimensional analysis of DTC heads implied that the perpendicular component of the head field should become larger by using the double-layered media under a narrower spacing condition. Recording characteristics using conventional ring head were evaluated in order to determine the principle of DTC configuration. Several DTC heads were prepared using photolithography technique and their performances were examined. A typical DTC head has inductance of about 500 nH, which is relatively low, and constant up to 10 MHz. DTC heads seems to be one of the most hopeful candidates as the heads useful for perpendicular magnetic recording systems.