Abstract: A hard disk drive utilizing a combination of thin film recording heads and media allows high density recording through virtual contact recording, while still providing excellent contact start stop performance and low stiction. The air bearing surface of the head has a microscopically fine texture which provides reliable mechanical performance with a constant and very low flying height. A skew insensitive constant flying height over the disk surface can be provided with the use of transverse pressure contour or cross-cut slider designs. The slider air bearing surface is textured by selective mechanical removal of subsurface damaged regions left behind during the diamond lapping of the slider air bearing surface, thereby leaving the slider less abrasive to the disk. A slider with this fine texture on the air bearing surface permits the use of a much smoother texture and thinner overcoat on the disk than currently possible using conventional sliders.

Abstract: A carbon film for protecting a magnetic disk is sputtered by a DC magnetron sputtering method, with the addition of superimposed AC power on the DC power applied to the carbon target. When the carbon film is sputtered for extended period in a production sputtering machine, nodular growth occurs over the sputtering surface of the carbon target. Such nodules are variously called "warts" or "mushrooms" in the industry and they are detrimental to the productivity of the sputtering machine. The size and quantity of the nodules over the target surface increase as the target is sputtered longer, and because these region do not contribute to sputtering, the efficiency of the target decreases. As sputter efficiency decreases, power input must be increased to the target to make up for the loss in the effective sputtering area of the target. Eventually, the power input must be increased to a point where arcing occurs continuously and sputtering cannot be continued.