PFI:AIR - TT: Technology Translation: Air coupled transducer for acoustically assisted magnetic recording

这个PFI: AIR技术翻译项目的重点是将声学辅助磁记录（AAMR）的研究发现转化为磁性硬盘驱动器的应用，以提高数据存储密度。AAMR利用表面声波影响的应变来暂时减少磁盘上写入所需的磁场，从而实现更高的数据密度。该项目将建立一种非接触式换能器的概念验证，用于在存储介质中产生聚焦的表面声波，以选择性地处理单个数据位。与目前正在考虑的其他竞争策略（即比特模式媒体记录，热辅助磁记录和微波辅助磁记录）相比，AAMR(1)不需要昂贵的存储媒体模式，(2)排除热负载和循环问题，(3)提供了更简单的子系统集成的可能性。AAMR的基本原理已经在以前的工作中得到了证明。该项目需要解决的技术差距是演示适合与商业记录磁头集成的声学换能器，这是建立AAMR技术可行性和商业现实的重要和必要步骤。磁性硬盘驱动器长期以来一直是数据存储的主流，尽管受到固态存储器技术的威胁，但由于其成本竞争力（每千兆字节0.05- 0.10美元，而固态存储器为每千兆字节1.20- 2.00美元），预计将继续主导市场。目前，硬盘驱动器构成了一个价值400亿美元的产业，两家美国公司占据了近90%的市场份额。在大数据、云和超级计算技术的推动下，对存储的需求预计将呈指数级增长。这些统计数据强调了成功将AAMR转化为市场可能产生的重大经济影响和回报。

This PFI: AIR Technology Translation project focuses on translating the research discovery of acoustically assisted magnetic recording (AAMR) towards application in magnetic hard disk drives for greater data storage densities. AAMR exploits strain effected by surface acoustic waves to temporarily reduce the magnetic field required to write on the disk and enable higher data density. The project will establish proof-of-concept of a non-contact transducer for generating focused surface acoustic waves in the storage medium for selectively addressing individual data bits. In comparison to other competing strategies presently being considered, namely bit-patterned media recording, heat-assisted magnetic recording and microwave-assisted magnetic recording, AAMR (1) does not require expensive patterning of the storage media, (2) precludes thermal loading and cycling issues, and (3) provides the possibility of simpler sub-system integration. The basic principles of AAMR have been proven in previous work. The technology gap to be addressed in this project is the demonstration of an acoustic transducer suitable for integration with a commercial recording head, an important and necessary step towards establishing the technical feasibility and commercial reality of AAMR.Magnetic hard disk drives have long been the mainstay for data storage, and, despite threat from solid-state memory technologies, are expected to continue to dominate the market due to their cost-competitiveness ($0.05-$0.10 per gigabyte versus solid-state storage at $1.20-$2.00 per gigabyte). Currently hard disk drives constitute a $40 billion industry with nearly 90% of the market share held by two U.S. companies. Demand for storage is further predicted to grow exponentially, spurred by the needs of big data, cloud and supercomputing technologies. These statistics underscore the likely significant economic impact and pay-off of successfully translating AAMR to the marketplace.