Side Crosstalk Response in Perpendicular Magnetic Recording with Narrow Track Width Single-pole Head

We investigated the off-track side crosstalk response and Bitter patterns in perpendicular magnetic recording media after recording with a single-pole head, for various head track widths and recorded bit lengths. A Co-Cr/permalloy flexible 3.5" disk medium and single-sided single-pole heads with track widths of 3.8, 5.5 and 7.0 μm were used in evaluations. Experiments yielded the following results: 1) the recorded track width coincided precisely with the width of the main pole, even at the very narrow track width of 3.8 μm; 2) side crosstalk in perpendicular magnetic recording is governed by the side-reading behavior of the single-pole head used.