Abstract: A method and apparatus for compensating waveforms, spectra, and profiles derived therefrom for effects of drift is disclosed. The present invention removes the effects of drift from a sequential series of waveforms obtained from a waveform-source device, or spectra, from a spectrometer, to produce for output a sequential series of drift-compensated waveforms, or spectra, respectively. In addition, the present invention performs a factor analysis, or alternatively a linear-least-squares analysis, on an array of the drift-compensated waveforms, or spectra to provide a set of drift-compensated principal factors; and, generates drift-compensated scaled target-factor profiles from a profile trajectory lying within a space of the set of drift-compensated principal factors. In addition, in the case of spectra, the invention provides for conversion of the drift-compensated scaled target-factor profiles to drift-compensated compositional profiles.

Abstract: The improved method for trimming a magnetic head utilizing a FIB tool includes a step of aligning the FIB tool milling boxes without imaging critical pole tip components and structure. The method includes the creation of an alignment box that is disposed in a known, fixed orientation relative to the FIB tool milling boxes. The FIB tool is aligned by imaging only the alignment box and by moving the alignment box relative to known pole tip structural characteristics that are disposed away from the critical pole tip components. The alignment box is visually aligned on non-sensitive pole tip components in such a manner that the milling boxes will be properly aligned relative to the sensitive pole tip components. FIB tool milling is thereafter performed within the milling boxes which have been accurately aligned without imaging of sensitive pole tip components.

Abstract: An alloy of tetragonal polycrystalline structure acts as a thin film magnetic medium. The medium can be for recording or sensing magnetic transitions representative of data and is of a thickness less than about 200 Å, and has a coercivity in excess of about 2000 Oe. The film is in the L1o phase which is suitable for longitudinal recording and can be constituted by an alloy selected from cobalt or iron together with platinum or palladium. The film is formed by sputtering from a target and thereafter annealing the thin film and at a temperature in excess of about 500° C.

Abstract: A heterogeneous thin film structure including a discontinuous layer of ferromagnetic material deposited on an insulating substrate and overcoated with a layer of nonmagnetic electrically conductive material exhibits giant magnetoresistance in saturation fields on the order of 350 Oersteds. A layer of ferromagnetic material is deposited on a heated insulating substrate by high vacuum evaporation techniques to form a layer of isolated ferromagnetic particles and overcoated with a nonmagnetic conductive material to form a plurality of ferromagnetic particles embedded in a nonmagnetic conductive matrix. As the ferromagnetic and nonmagnetic materials are deposited separately, it is not required that the two materials be immiscible and subsequent annealing is not required to induce phase separation.

Abstract: An alloy of tetragonal polycrystalline structure acts as a thin film magnetic medium. The medium can be for recording or sensing magnetic transitions representative of data and is of a thickness less than about 200 .ANG., and has a coercivity in excess of about 2000 Oe. The film is in the L1o phase which is suitable for longitudinal recording and can be constituted by an alloy selected from cobalt or iron together with platinum or palladium. The film is formed by sputtering from a target and thereafter annealing the thin film and at a temperature in excess of about 500.degree. C.