An error rate emulation system [magnetic recording channel]

This report describes a new method to emulate the magnetic recording channel. The use of asynchronous high frequency sampling eliminates the need for a phase locked loop circuit. By optimizing FIR filter tap weights with a least mean square algorithm, it has become possible to examine the signal-to-noise ratio of intrinsic head/media. Another method using the modulation spectrum to determine SNR is also described. The results suggest that both of methods will be a useful tool to help study high-density magnetic recording.