Looking back at perpendicular magnetic recording R&D in NEC

Abstract This paper reports perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) circumstances and the results based on the reference published by NEC. The PMR flexible disks using Co–Cr–Ta films were investigated. Pass wear durability of Co–Cr–Ta film strongly depends on the base film surface roughness and Young's modulus values of Co–Cr–Ta films. Pass wear durability, more than 10 million passes, was confirmed under a high temperature (60 °C) and a high humidity (80% RH) condition, as well as a low temperature (5 °C) condition. The read/write characteristics for double-layered PMR media were examined by using a combination of a single-pole-type (SPT) write head and a magnetoresistive (MR) read head, and a conventional merged ring type inductive (ID) write head/MR read head. By differential equalization of the reproduced voltage, the bit error rate less than 10 −6 at 3 Gb/in. 2 was obtained for the SPT/MR head combination. The antenna effect for PMR realization was analyzed using the merged ring type ID/MR head. In order to increase the magnetic circuit resistance from the ID head pole to the soft underlayer, we developed the sendust (FeAlSi) soft underlayer with low magnetic permeability. We confirmed that the recorded signal has better stability under the ID/MR head-loaded condition than the SPT head-loaded condition. These results show that there are the head and media solutions to realize PMR. We had confidence that we could use the basic structure of the commercial ID/MR head for the PMR head.