Abstract: Sliders that include a slider body having an outer side edge, an inner side edge, a trailing edge and a leading edge, and a base; a trailing edge set of features positioned towards the trailing edge of the slider body, the trailing edge set of features having air bearing surfaces, the air bearing surfaces being above the base of the slider body; a leading edge set of features positioned towards the leading edge of the slider body; a gap positioned between the trailing edge set of features and the leading edge set of features, the gap having a gap surface, the gap surface substantially coplanar with the base of the slider body; and a first gap feature and a second gap feature distributed evenly within the gap from the inner side edge to the outer side edge, the first and second gap features each having upper surfaces, the upper surfaces of the first and second gap features being above the base of the slider body but below the air bearing surface of the trailing edge features.

Abstract: Sliders that include a slider body having an outer side edge, an inner side edge, a trailing edge and a leading edge, and a base; a trailing edge set of features positioned towards the trailing edge of the slider body, the trailing edge set of features having air bearing surfaces, the air bearing surfaces being above the base of the slider body; a leading edge set of features positioned towards the leading edge of the slider body; a gap positioned between the trailing edge set of features and the leading edge set of features, the gap having a gap surface, the gap surface substantially coplanar with the base of the slider body; and a first gap feature and a second gap feature distributed evenly within the gap from the inner side edge to the outer side edge, the first and second gap features each having upper surfaces, the upper surfaces of the first and second gap features being above the base of the slider body but below the air bearing surface of the trailing edge features.

Abstract: A disc burnishing head includes an array of burnishing pads and a first and second side rail projecting from a bottom surface of a slider body. The side rails each have an inside surface facing the burnishing pads and an outside surface facing outward. The outside surface of at least the first side rail is serrated. The serrations define a plurality of teeth and notches on the outside surface of the first side rail for cutting, cleaning, and conditioning defects from the surface of a disc.

Abstract: A disc burnishing head includes an array of burnishing pads and a first and second side rail projecting from a bottom surface of a slider body. The side rails each have an inside surface facing the burnishing pads and an outside surface facing outward. The outside surface of at least the first side rail is serrated. The serrations define a plurality of teeth and notches on the outside surface of the first side rail for cutting, cleaning, and conditioning defects from the surface of a disc.