GOALI: Three-dimensional Magnetic Recording At Areal Densities Above 1 Terabit-per-square-inch

加州大学河滨分校（UCR）、佛罗里达国际大学（FIU）、MagOasis LLC和西部数据公司（WDC）的研究人员提出了一项跨学科研究，研究三维（3-D）磁记录，这是一项有前途且具有挑战性的近期和长期解决方案，可以提高电子和计算机设备的容量。与二维不同，三维记录利用了利用三维空间来存储信息的优势。具体目标包括：(i)研究3-D记录的不同模式，（ii）了解3-D系统中写入过程的物理基础，（iii）制造具有三个或更多磁性层的3-D介质，可用于写入/读取过程，（iv）对3-D介质进行基础研究，重点是了解3-D结构中的热波动，(v)研究从3-D记录中的多电平信号配置中获得的新数据编码通道，以及（vi）行业标准的旋转测试，以证明面密度高于1tb /in2。其中一个重要的研究目标将是了解实现有效面密度大大超过1tb /in2所需的三维记录的物理特性。实验研究包括：(i)通过溅射沉积和组合化学合成进行广泛制造，通过电子束光刻（EBL）进行超高密度图像化，（ii）聚焦Kerr显微镜和超高分辨率磁力显微镜，（iii）三维热传播测量，（iv）模拟记录系统的旋转装置研究。通过数值模拟来了解三维系统中的微磁性，并通过基础理论研究来设计适当的多层数据编码方法。因此，这项工作将遵循跨学科的方向，包括来自学术界和工业界的磁记录、材料科学、微磁建模和信号处理方面的专家。特别是，该项目将利用五名具有协同合作历史的共同研究人员的优势互补，包括：(i)佛罗里达国际大学（FIU）的Sakhrat Khizroev负责磁记录和纳米制造，（ii） UCR的Alex Balandin负责纳米级热管理，（iii） UCR的Ilya Dumer负责数据编码，（iv） MagOasis LLC的John Oti负责微磁模拟，(v)西部数据公司（WDC）的Rabee Ikkawi，分别负责磁盘驱动器集成和Spinstand测试。该项目可能会对数据存储行业产生重大影响，特别是在今天，由于记录介质的热不稳定性，这个价值数十亿美元的行业正面临着扩展的基本限制。该项目的主要目标是进行一项跨学科的基础研究，以证明使用破坏性的3d磁记录技术可以实现超过1tb /in2的创纪录高信息密度。3-D记录技术作为3-D设备广泛领域的先驱概念之一，可能会为3-D磁电子学和3-D电子学应用的新时代铺平道路。拟议的教育部分包括一项全校范围的新倡议，为本科生和研究生建立一个行业实习渠道。MagOasis LLC总裁John Oti和Western Digital Corporation首席工程师Rabee Ikkawi将分别担任行业联合负责人和高级人员，以确保与行业的联系。UCR是美国的一部分？美国最具种族多样性的研究机构，亚裔美国人占主导地位，西班牙裔学生占35%。FIU是美国大陆最大的西班牙裔服务机构，调查人员承诺尽一切努力确保参与该项目的学生的多样性。具体来说，他们打算从女性工程师协会、全国黑人工程师协会和西班牙裔专业工程师协会等组织的学生分会中招募人员。此外，为了吸引学生成为未来的工程师，pi已经建立了接待当地高中生参观最先进的研究实验室的传统。最后，pi打算组织下一届预期的IEEE纳米器件和系统集成(NDSI)-2012会议，以帮助扩大少数民族服务机构中现有学生的研究准备，并进一步吸引重视代表性不足的学生的人才。

Intellectual MeritThis collaborative GOALI proposal between researchers of the University of California, Riverside (UCR), Florida International University (FIU), MagOasis LLC, and Western Digital Corporation (WDC) presents interdisciplinary research to study three-dimensional (3-D) magnetic recording, a promising and challenging near- and long-term solution to increasing the capacity of electronic and computer devices. Unlike 2-D alternatives, 3-D recording exploits advantages of using a 3rd spatial dimension to store information. The specific goals will include: (i) a study of different modes of 3-D recording, (ii) understanding the physics underlying write processes in 3-D systems, (iii) fabrication of 3-D media with three or more magnetic layers accessible for write/read processes, (iv) a basic study of 3-D media with a focus to understand thermal fluctuations in 3-D structures, (v) an investigation of new data coding channels to gain from the multilevel signal configuration in 3-D recording, and (vi) an industry-standard spinstand testing to demonstrate areal densities above 1 terabit/in2. One of the important research objectives will be to understand the physics of 3-D recording necessary for achieving effective areal densities substantially above 1 terabit/in2. The experimental study, involving (i) extensive fabrication via sputter deposition and combinatorial chemistry synthesis, ultra-high-density patterning via electron beam lithography (EBL), (ii) focused Kerr microscopy and ultra-high resolution magnetic force microscopy, (iii) measurements of heat propagation in 3-D, and (iv) a spinstand study to simulate recording systems, will be supported by numerical simulations to understand the micromagnetics in 3-D systems and a basic theoretical study to devise adequate multilevel data coding methods. Accordingly, the effort will follow a cross-disciplinary direction through involving experts in magnetic recording, materials science, micromagnetic modeling, and signal processing from both academia and industry. Particularly, the project will employ the complementing strengths of five co-investigators with a history of synergetic collaboration including (i) Sakhrat Khizroev at Florida International University (FIU) for Magnetic Recording and Nanofabrication, (ii) Alex Balandin at UCR for Heat Management at Nanoscale, (iii) Ilya Dumer at UCR for Data Coding, (iv) John Oti at MagOasis LLC for Micromagnetic Simulations, and (v) Rabee Ikkawi at Western Digital Corporation (WDC) for Disk Drive Integration and Spinstand Testing, respectively. Broader Impacts This project might have a significant impact on the data storage industry especially today when the progress in the multi-billion-dollar industry is facing a fundamental limit to scaling due to thermal instabilities in the recording media. The main targeted deliverable of the project is a cross-disciplinary basic study to demonstrate a record high information density over 1 terabit/in2 using the disruptive technology of 3-D magnetic recording. As one of the pioneering concepts in the broad area of 3-D devices, 3-D recording may pave a way to the new era of 3-D magneto-electronics and 3-D electronics applications in general3. The proposed educational component includes a new university-wide initiative to establish a channel for industry internships for both undergraduate and graduate level students. The connection to the industry will be secured through involvement of John Oti, President of MagOasis LLC, and Rabee Ikkawi, a Principal Engineer of Western Digital Corporation, as the industry Co-PI and Senior Personnel, respectively. UCR is one of America?s most ethnically diverse research institutions with a dominant Asian American body and 35% Hispanic enrollment. FIU is the largest Hispanic serving institution in the mainland U.S.A. The investigators commit to make every effort to assure diversity among the students who work on this project. In particular, they intend to do this in part by recruiting from the student chapters of the Society of Women Engineers, the National Society of Black Engineers, and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, among others. In addition, the PIs have established a tradition of hosting local high-school students to give them tours of state-of-the-art research labs with the goal to attract students to become future engineers. Finally, the PIs intend to organize the next anticipated IEEE Nanoscale Device and System Integration (NDSI)-2012 conference to help broaden the research preparation of current students in the minority serving institutions and further attract talent with an emphasis on underrepresented students.