Abstract: An air bearing slider for a magnetic head assembly is configured with taper flat outer rails and a recessed region between the rails in one embodiment of the invention, a hard wear-resistant layer is deposited over part of the rail area, with a thin residual layer over the remainder of the slider area, yielding a step in thickness near the load point. In another embodiment, the wear resistant layer appears only on the side rails. In an alternative embodiment using a tripad configuration of the air bearing surface, the hard wear-resistant layer is disposed on portions of all three pads. The invention allows control and minimization of the stiction forces between an air bearing slider and a magnetic disk, particularly during liftoff at the start of disk drive operation.

Abstract: A wear-resistant end cap is provided for an air bearing slider of a thin film magnetic recording head useful in a disk drive. The slider has an air bearing surface that is positioned adjacent to a rotating surface of a magnetic disk during data recording or readout. A thin film transducer is deposited on the trailing end of the slider perpendicular to the air bearing surface. A laminated end cap is deposited on the trailing end surface disposed normal to the disk recording surface to protect the transducer. The end cap includes a first lamination disposed with an edge in a plane parallel to the air bearing surface of the slider and a second contiguous lamination of a different material having an edge in the plane whereby the edge areas of the contiguous laminations have relatively more wear resistance than the wear resistance of an equivalent edge area of either material taken alone.

Abstract: A composition of matter having an atomic density between that of pure diamond and at least 0.18 g-atoms per cubic centimeter and the formula:C.sub.1-z-w Si.sub.z A.sub.w [H.sub.1-x F.sub.x ].sub.ywhere: 0.ltoreq.z+w.ltoreq.0.15, 0.ltoreq.w.ltoreq.0.05, 0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.10, 0<y<1.5, and, A is boron or oxygen. Variation of the constituents and the parameters of production of the compositions in self-biasing RF cavities, or primary or secondary ion beam methods, allows formation of films of, for example, desired hardness, lubricity, density, electrical conductivity, permeability, adhesion and stress. Variation of the properties allows production of films formed by the composition as a function of depth.

Abstract: An optical data storage medium has, on one face, a recording track and a non-recording track for high-density magneto-optical recording. The media is manufactured by sputtering magnetic material onto a surface with alternating tracks of rough and smooth textures. Alternatively, the media may be manufactured by depositing a coating of hydrogenated carbon composition and exposing the coating to ion bombardment, or by sputtering or angular deposition of magnetic material onto a corrugated surface.

Abstract: A low-frictiona, corrosion-resistant substrate includes a substrate and a macromolecular Langmuir-Blodgett film in coating relationship with the substrate, the film having a multiplicity of macromolecules, each including a hydrophobic end and a hydrophilic end, wherein the hydrophilic end of substantially each macromolecule is bonded to a surface of the substrate and the hydrophobic end of each macromolecule resides at the interface of the film coating and the surrounding air. The film may also include planar heterocyclic molecules. A low-friction corrosion-resistant read/write head and/or recording medium includes a Langmuir-Blodgett film in coating relationship with the surface thereof.

Abstract: The use of an organic material having a conjugated ring system such as 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride interfaced with a semiconductor material such as silicon yields quite acceptable rectifying properties. These properties are used to test the suitability of the substrate during processing. Additionally, these materials upon irradiation change refractive index, allowing production of optical devices such as gratings. The combination of electrical and optical devices formed using these organic materials also allows relatively simple fabrication of integrated opto-electronic structures.

Abstract: The conductivity of a wide range of carbon-containing materials is substantially increased by irradiation with particles having an atomic mass of at least 1. Both polymeric and nonpolymeric, organic and inorganic, materials can be used. The particulate irradiation, for example an ion beam, substantially breaks down the material to a form that includes amorphous carbon having unusually high conductivity. Resistivities of less than 10.sup.-3 ohm-cm are possible. When applied as a film on a substrate, the irradiated material can be used for device interconnects. Conducting lines can be produced in the film, as well as vertical contacts through the film.

Abstract: Materials that change crystal structure upon radiation with a beam of electrons have been found. These materials, such as perylene dianhydride, naphthalene dianhydride, and perylene tetracarboxylic diimide based compounds undergo a transformation from one crystalline structure to another upon exposure to energetic electrons. This transformation causes a change in optical, electrical, and solubility properties. In this manner, these materials are useful as resists for delineating patterns, as optical storage media, and/or in processes for producing patterns of conductive materials such as employed in semiconductor technology.

Abstract: Niobium-aluminum superconducting wire and other shaped articles are made by heating a precursor body which comprises niobium, an auxiliary element which is more easily oxidizable than aluminum, and aluminum oxide, the aluminum oxide being supported by a surface or a matrix comprising niobium and the auxiliary element. Among suitable auxiliary elements are zirconium, hafnium, scandium, yttrium, and the nonmagnetic rare earths.

Abstract: An electron source using an electron emissive material having a composition represented by the nominal atom formula La.sub.x (Nd.sub.y Pr.sub.1-y).sub.1-x B.sub.6 ; x less than 0.5 and greater than 0.2, y less than or equal to 1.0 and greater than or equal to 0.0, is described. The electron source is well suited for use in instruments such as scanning electron microscopes and electron beam exposure systems.