High density heat assisted magnetic recording media and advanced characterization: progress and challenges

Heat Assisted Magnetic Recording (HAMR) is widely considered the leading technology to further extend the areal density growth of hard disk drives beyond the current perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR). The progress and maturity of HAMR technology are evidenced by Seagate's 1.0Tbpsi spin-stand basic technology demonstration [1] and the subsequent demonstration of a fully functional drive with more than 1000 WPOH (write power on hours) [2, 3]. Tremendous progress has been made with the design and reliability of the nano-scale near-field optical transducer (NFT) since the first demonstration of NFT recording [4]. Similarly, since the first report of flyable high anisotropy granular FePt thin film media a few years ago [5], significant improvements have been made in microstructure, magnetic properties, thermal stack design and media mechanical properties [6,7]. Yet tremendous challenges remain in media fabrication as well as testing/characterization aspects for HAMR to fulfill its promise as the next generation magnetic recording technology.