Abstract: Stiction failure of a magnetic recording medium is reduced by forming a lubricant topcoat having a first thickness over the landing zone greater than a second thickness over the data zone, with a sharp transition step having an angle of at least about 70° with respect to a line perpendicular to the surface. Embodiments include depositing a lubricant topcoat at a substantially uniform thickness and reducing the thickness of the lubricant topcoat over the data zone by about 20% to about 80% employing a laser light beam to volatilize the lubricant.

Abstract: A laser-optical wave mixing technique is provided for forming a high density textured data zone in an efficient and accurate manner. A single coherent laser beam of wavelength &lgr; is split into two beams with roughly the same intensity. These two beams are then overlapped with a cross angle of 2&thgr; and focused at the disk surface, resulting in an intensity grating thereon. The intensity grating creates a wave-form pattern consisting of a series of high-energy laser beam lines that will heat the target surface and make surface topographical changes accordingly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for laser texturing data storage media surfaces to provide ultra-low glide avalanche in disk drives employs a continuous wave laser that is randomly modulated. A random signal generator produces a random signal that controls an acousto-optical modulator. The acousto-optical modulator, in accordance with the random signal, modulates the laser beam output of a continuous wave laser. A controllable, repeatable pattern is provided on the data storage media surface by the laser texturing with limited randomness in the circumferential direction to avoid resonance effects on a slider.

Abstract: A reference disk, used to determine the glide height of a transducer head above the surface of a magnetic recording medium, is accurately formed by employing a laser light beam to produce protrusions on the reference disk. The protrusions can be formed in a variety of effective patterns to obtain a stable electrical signal. Embodiments include circumferential rows of uniformly or randomly spaced protrusions.