Definition of an Areal Density Metric for Magnetic Recording Systems

The areal density capability (ADC) of a magnetic recording disk drive is highly dependent on the application or market segment. In this paper, we define a new areal density metric, which represents what areal density is possible under ideal recording conditions. This proposed areal density metric enables the industry to standardize and compare the ADC of magnetic recording disk drives across various recording technologies independent of market segment. We demonstrate the performance of experimental 2-D magnetic recording and heat assisted magnetic recording technology components measured using the proposed areal density metric.