Side writing/reading in magnetic recording

Abstract

Side writing is a significant effect for narrow track widths used in high- areal-density magnetic recording. Lorentz electron micrographs can help to understand the nature of side writing and are used in this paper, in conjunction with analytical modeling, to characterize side writing in isotropic and strongly oriented recording media. Isotropic media exhibit a wide side-written fringe, including a strip often termed an ‘‘erased band,’’ although it is not truly erased. Strongly oriented media, however, show no erased band.