Recording performance and tribological evaluation of FIB defined tape recording heads

Aggressive growth in cartridge capacity in future generation tape drives requires amongst others, high linear recording and track densities. In order to improve the track misregistration (TMR) budget at smaller track pitches, the erase band and tolerances on the recorded track width need to be minimized. This can be achieved by "trimming" the write element to the desired track width by forming a longitudinal channel on either side of the clement on the tape bearing surface (TBS) using focused ion beam (FIB) milling. Cross-track measurements depict desired track widths with reduced forward-reverse track width asymmetry in the read-write-read head configuration. Investigation of the head/tape interface does not predict any undesirable effects. These channels capture debris and hence will reduce the recording loss, especially at higher linear recording densities, due to tape tenting over loose debris transported through the interface and near the recording elements. A conceptual channel design is presented that will further reduce debris near the recording elements during the life of the head.