SGER:Novel Disk Architecture for Extremely High Magnetic Storage Densities

乔治亚理工学院杰弗里·L·斯特里特西北大学钟业华摘要为了满足日益增长的信息存储密度的需求，必须开发新的记录技术。例如，国家存储工业联盟的一个明确目标是在2005年前实现每平方英寸1TB(1TB/in2)的存储密度。在这种背景下，佐治亚理工学院和西北大学的研究人员提出了一项合作努力，以调查实现超高记录密度的新磁域结构的可行性。该新颖的结构由图案化垂直记录介质组成，该垂直记录介质具有略微凹陷在盘表面下方的离散的、电绝缘的磁区。磁区的离散性质防止了与连续介质和超顺磁性极限相关的热不稳定性。将磁区略微凹进1到2纳米--而不是像传统的图案化介质概念那样凸出10-12纳米--有望通过减少间距调制来提供更好的飞行特性。此外，通过使磁区电绝缘，几乎消除了潜在的腐蚀问题，这些问题随着涂层厚度的减少而变得越来越可能。图案化介质的制造将通过两种方式完成：(1)通过纳米球光刻和(2)通过聚焦离子束(FIB)技术。纳米球光刻将使用单分散纳米球阵列作为光刻掩模，而FIB方法将涉及直接高分辨率无掩模刻蚀。拟议研究中的表征和评估将包括地形测量、适飞性研究和腐蚀监测。此外，研究还将包括滑块飞行的数值模拟以及制造过程的建模。这项研究计划的执行将涉及两个研究小组之间的密切合作。如果成功，这项研究将为开发一种经济高效和强大的手段来满足信息存储行业的高密度存储需求提供蓝图。

SGER: NOVEL DISK ARCHITECTURE FOR EXTREMELY HIGH MAGNETIC STORAGE DENSITIESJeffrey L. Streator, Georgia Institute of TechnologyYip-Wah Chung, Northwestern UniversityABSTRACTTo meet the demand for ever-increasing density of information storage, new recording technologies must be developed. For example, a stated goal of the National Storage Industry Consortium is to achieve a storage density of 1 terabyte per square inch (1 Tb/in2) by 2005. In this vein, researchers at Georgia Tech and Northwestern University propose a collaborative effort to investigate the viability of a new magnetic domain architecture for achieving ultrahigh recording densities. The novel architecture consists of a patterned perpendicular recording media with discrete, electrically insulated magnetic domains that are slightly recessed below the disk surface. The discrete nature of the domains prevents the thermal instabilities associated with continuous media and the superparamagnetic limit. Having the domains slightly recessed 1 to 2 nanometers--as opposed to protruding 10-12 nanometers as with conventional patterned media concepts--is expected to provide much better flying characteristics through reduction of spacing modulation. In addition, by having the domains electrically insulated, potential corrosion problems, which become increasingly likely with decreasing overcoat thickness, are virtually eliminated. Fabrication of the patterned media will be accomplished in two ways: (1) via nanosphere lithography and (2) via a focused ion beam (FIB) technique. The nanosphere lithography will employ an array of monodispersed nanospheres as a lithographic mask, while the FIB method will involve direct high-resolution mask-less etching. Characterization and evaluation in the proposed study will include topographical measurements, flyability studies and corrosion monitoring. In addition, the investigation will involve numerical simulation of slider flight as well as fabrication process modeling. Execution of this research plan will involve close collaboration between the two research groups. If successful, the study will provide a blueprint for developing a cost-effective and robust means of meeting the high-density storage demands of the information storage industry.