Observation of Recording Pole Instability in Perpendicular Recording

Down- and cross-track distributions of medium magnetization are determined by the recording pole field profile and the switching dynamics. Earlier studies of the write pole footprint in perpendicular magnetic recording revealed asymmetrical media saturation caused by magnetic pole nonuniformity. In this paper, we report variable footprint shapes indicating recording pole instability. We extend our spin-stand "footprint" measurements to also evaluate recording pole instability