Andrew Morgan Hill Homola

Design of a manufacturable discrete track recording medium

The potential benefits of patterning discrete tracks onto a disk for magnetic data storage have long been investigated. A practical process for manufacturing a cost-effective discrete track recording (DTR) medium has prevented such a disk from being introduced into a product. In this paper, a process utilizing nano-imprint lithography techniques to create a land and groove structure on the surface of a disk substrate will be described. Design considerations for the geometry of the structure, as well as of the magnetic write and read widths of the head, are discussed. Data showing the magnetic characteristics and recording performance of a DTR medium are also presented.