Three-DOF dynamic model with lubricant contact for thermal fly-height control nanotechnology

Abstract

A three-degree-of-freedom dynamic contact model with friction and lubricant contact is introduced for thermal fly-height control of a near-contact flying slider. The proposed model addresses the issue of contact with a molecularly thin lubricant layer and includes a third degree-of-freedom, roll. Neither lubricant contact nor roll has been accounted for in previous models of the head–disk interface. Roll angle rotations allow for possible contact at other slider features such as the contact pads, which may induce destabilizing moments to the slider motion and lead to unwanted slider–disk contact. While roll is important primarily during operational shock, the inclusion of lubricant contact is found to be an important determinant of the severity of steady contact while lubricant properties are shown to affect the transient properties of the jump-to- and out-of-contact slider behaviour for near- and light-contact operation. The model's validity is examined using available experimental and simulation data that predict flying height gain due to air bearing stiffening as well as significant vibration zones before and after steady-state contact.