Abstract: A lubricant including a plurality of segments including a divalent center segment and two sidechain segments, each including a perfluoroalkyl ether moieties is provided in which a dewetting thickness of the lubricant may be determined based in-part on a segment weight average molecular weight of the segments. A magnetic recording medium and a magnetic data storage system including the lubricant are also provided.

Abstract: A lubricant including a plurality of segments including a divalent center segment and two sidechain segments, each including a perfluoroalkyl ether moieties is provided in which a dewetting thickness of the lubricant may be determined based in-part on a segment weight average molecular weight of the segments. A magnetic recording medium and a magnetic data storage system including the lubricant are also provided.

Abstract: A lubricant including a plurality of segments including a divalent center segment and two sidechain segments, each including a perfluoroalkyl ether moieties is provided in which a dewetting thickness of the lubricant may be determined based in-part on a segment weight average molecular weight of the segments. A magnetic recording medium and a magnetic data storage system including the lubricant are also provided.

Abstract: A lubricant including a plurality of segments including a divalent center segment and two sidechain segments, each including a perfluoroalkyl ether moieties is provided in which a dewetting thickness of the lubricant may be determined based in-part on a segment weight average molecular weight of the segments. A magnetic recording medium and a magnetic data storage system including the lubricant are also provided.

Abstract: A lubricant including a plurality of segments including a divalent center segment and two sidechain segments, each including a perfluoroalkyl ether moieties is provided in which a dewetting thickness of the lubricant may be determined based in-part on a segment weight average molecular weight of the segments. A magnetic recording medium and a magnetic data storage system including the lubricant are also provided.

Abstract: A disk surface asperities tester including a glidehead member having a piezoelectric sensor fabricated directly on the glidehead member. The piezoelectric sensors are useful in applications utilizing 70%, 50%, 30%, or smaller glideheads. The invention discloses a method for manufacturing sensors utilizing microchip fabrication techniques to form the piezoelectric sensors directly on glidehead surfaces, including standard Al2O3.TiC glideheads. The fabricated piezoelectric sensors are used in combination with signal processors to detect and analyze asperities in a disk drive surface.

Abstract: A reader and a method of fabricating a reader having a thermally isolated magnetoresistive element is disclosed. The method includes fabricating a magnetoresistive read transistor between a top shield and a bottom shield. The magnetoresistive read transistor is then coated with a thermally isolating material. The magnetoresistive read transistor can be coated with a zirconia compound such as zirconium diboride. For additional thermal isolation, a layer of diamond-like carbon can be deposited over the thermally isolating material.

Abstract: A slider for supporting transducer elements for a data storage system including at least one pressure relief trench formed in the raised bearing proximate to a contact interface position of the slider and disc surface. The trench is sized to reduce capillary pressure of the meniscus relative to disjoining pressure of a lubricant film layer on the disc surface to limit the area or expansion of a film bridge or meniscus between the bearing surface of the slider and disc surface.

Abstract: A disk surface asperities tester including a glidehead member having a piezoelectric sensor fabricated directly on the glidehead member. The piezoelectric sensors are useful in applications utilizing 70%, 50%, 30%, or smaller glideheads. The invention discloses a method for manufacturing sensors utilizing microchip fabrication techniques to form the piezoelectric sensors directly on glidehead surfaces, including standard Al2O3.TiC glideheads. The fabricated piezoelectric sensors are used in combination with signal processors to detect and analyze asperities in a disk drive surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for calibrating a glide head and detector system performs a pre-screening to ensure the quality of the glide head and the piezoelectric sensor in the detection system. The glide head and the piezoelectric sensor detect a signal when the glide head makes contact with the disk, such as a magnetic recording disk. Calibration of the detection system utilizes a specially made bump disk that has asperities of desired height and size that protrude out of a flat disk surface. The glide head is flown over the bump disk, and by gradually reducing the disk spinning velocity, the head is brought closer to the disk and eventually into contact with the asperity. The onset of contact, as detected by the piezoelectric sensor, defines a disk spinning velocity for the head to fly at the desired height.

Abstract: A disk drive system is disclosed. The disk drive system includes at least one substantially flat magnetic disk, at least one read/write head, at least one head stack assembly, and at least one axial positioning device. Each head stack assembly is coupled to at least one read/write head, which is suspended in proximity to a magnetic disk for reading data from and writing data to the magnetic disk. Each axial positioning device is coupled to at least one head stack assembly for variably positioning the head stack assembly in a direction substantially normal to the disk surfaces. By axial positioning of the head stack assembly, each read/write head can be loaded onto a magnetic disk by being suspended in close proximity to the magnetic disk at the flying height of the read/write head, or unloaded from the magnetic disk by being suspended at a height in relation to the magnetic disk greater than the flying height.

Abstract: An information storage system including a perfluoropolyether lubricant having hydroxyethyloxymethyl terminated endgroups on the surface of a rigid storage medium is provided. In the subject invention, the perfluoropolyether lubricant has the general repeat formula of: HOp(CH2—CH2O)CH2—Z—CH2(OCH2—CH2)pOH where Z is —CF2—(OC2F4)m—(CF2)n—OCF2—, p has an average value of 1.5, the ratio of m to n is approximately 1.0, and the mean molecular weight of the lubricant is in the range of approximately 2000 to 6000.

Abstract: A slider for supporting transducer elements for a data storage system including at least one pressure relief trench formed in the raised bearing proximate to a contact interface position of the slider and disc surface. The trench is sized to reduce capillary pressure of the meniscus relative to disjoining pressure of a lubricant film layer on the disc surface to limit the area or expansion of a film bridge or meniscus between the bearing surface of the slider and disc surface.

Abstract: Non operational shock resistance is achieved by preventing separation of the read/write head from the disk. Embodiments include optimizing the normal stiction force of a lubricant topcoat by controlling the texture geometry of the landing zone and lubricant topcoat thickness, particularly the density of protrusions. Laser textured landing zones having a protrusion density above about 4,500 protrusions/mm.sup.2 can provide an optimal normal stiction force in excess of 25 gf per interface and a lateral stiction force below 10 gf per interface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for calibrating a glide head and detector system performs a pre-screening to ensure the quality of the glide head and the piezoelectric sensor in the detection system. The glide head and the piezoelectric sensor detect a signal when the glide head makes contact with the disk, such as a magnetic recording disk. Calibration of the detection system utilizes a specially made bump disk that has asperities of desired height and size that protrude out of a flat disk surface. The glide head is flown over the bump disk, and by gradually reducing the disk spinning velocity, the head is brought closer to the disk and eventually into contact with the asperity. The onset of contact, as detected by the piezoelectric sensor, defines a disk spinning velocity for the head to fly at the desired height.