Abstract: A data storage medium includes a substrate, and a plurality of spaced-apart discrete data storage tracks supported by the substrate. The data storage medium also includes magnetic flux sinking material between the discrete data storage tracks and over the substrate. As an alternative to the magnetic flux sinking material, plasmonic material may be included between the discrete data storage tracks and over the substrate.

Abstract: A data storage medium includes a substrate, and a plurality of spaced-apart discrete data storage tracks supported by the substrate. The data storage medium also includes magnetic flux sinking material between the discrete data storage tracks and over the substrate. As an alternative to the magnetic flux sinking material, plasmonic material may be included between the discrete data storage tracks and over the substrate.

Abstract: A data storage device includes a data storage medium having a data storage surface. The data storage device also includes a first actuator having a first attached slider with a writer configured to write data on the data storage surface. The writer has a media-confronting surface covered by a first non-magnetic overcoat having a first thickness. The data storage device further includes a second actuator having a second attached slider with at least one user-data reader configured to read user data from the data storage surface and no writer for writing data on the data storage surface. The at least one user-data reader has a media-confronting surface covered by a second non-magnetic overcoat having a second thickness that is less than the first thickness of the first non-magnetic overcoat.

Abstract: A data storage device includes a data storage medium having a data storage surface. The data storage device also includes a first actuator having a first attached slider with a writer configured to write data on the data storage surface. The writer has a media-confronting surface covered by a first non-magnetic overcoat having a first thickness. The data storage device further includes a second actuator having a second attached slider with at least one user-data reader configured to read user data from the data storage surface and no writer for writing data on the data storage surface. The at least one user-data reader has a media-confronting surface covered by a second non-magnetic overcoat having a second thickness that is less than the first thickness of the first non-magnetic overcoat.

Abstract: Bottom tracks are written to a recording medium using a first setting of a spin-torque oscillator of a single microwave assisted magnetic recording (MAMR) head. Top tracks are written interlaced between and partially overlapping the bottom tracks using the single MAMR head at a second setting of the MAMR head, the first and second settings resulting in different bit aspect ratios for the top and bottom tracks.

Abstract: First tracks are read via a first head that is moved via a first actuator over a first, radially-defined, zone of a disk surface. Second tracks are read via a second head that is moved via a second actuator over a second zone of the disk surface that is separate from the first zone. The first and second heads are optimized to read data within first and second skew angle ranges associated with the first and second zones. The first and second skew angle ranges are each less than a total skew angle range of the disk surface.

Abstract: Bottom tracks are written to a recording medium using a first setting of a spin-torque oscillator of a single microwave assisted magnetic recording (MAMR) head. Top tracks are written interlaced between and partially overlapping the bottom tracks using the single MAMR head at a second setting of the MAMR head, the first and second settings resulting in different bit aspect ratios for the top and bottom tracks.

Abstract: A set of patterns written to a magnetic recording medium are found that result in a relatively high and/or low error when read back. Upon writing subsequent to the determining of the set of patterns, one pattern of the set of the patterns is identified within a data segment ready to be written to the magnetic recording medium. The data segment is written with a changed bit spacing in response to identifying that the one pattern of the set of the patterns is within the data segment.

Abstract: A first set of bottom tracks is written via a first head that is moved via a first actuator over a surface of a disk. A second set of top tracks interlaced between and partially overlapping the bottom tracks via a second head that is moved via a second actuator over the surface of the disk independently of the first actuator and first head.

Abstract: Bottom tracks are written to a recording medium using a first setting of a microwave assisted magnetic recording (MAMR) head. Top tracks are interlaced between and partially overlapping the bottom tracks using a second setting of the MAMR head, the second setting resulting in a narrower track width than the first setting.

Abstract: In one implementation, the disclosure provides a method comprising detecting one or more areas of a storage medium having a data pattern with a plurality of consecutive bits, where the consecutive bits have the same polarity. The method further comprises encoding additional information on a section of the one or more detected areas, where the section of the one or more detected areas has a signal to noise ratio (SNR) higher than SNR of the other areas of the storage media.

Abstract: First tracks of a disk are read via a first read transducer. The first read transducer has a first crosstrack width and a first shield-to-shield spacing that are optimized to read a first track width and a first linear bit density of the first tracks. Second tracks interlaced between the first tracks are read via a second read transducer. The second read transducer has a second crosstrack width different from the first crosstrack width and second shield-to-shield spacing different than the first shield-to-shield spacing. The second crosstrack width and the second shield-to-shield spacing are optimized to read a second track width different from the first track width and a second linear bit density different from the first linear bit density.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are directed to providing relative movement between a slider configured for heat-assisted magnetic recording and a magnetic recording medium, and causing protrusion of a portion of an air bearing surface (ABS) of the slider in response to activating at least a laser source while maintaining spacing between the protrusion and the medium. A magnitude of at least a portion of the protrusion is measured while maintaining spacing between the protrusion and the medium.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a thermal sensor configured to interact with a magnetic recording disk. A head-disk interface is defined between the thermal sensor and the disk. A power supply is coupled to the thermal sensor and configured to supply a bias power to the thermal sensor between a low power and a high power. A processor is coupled to the thermal sensor and configured to determine a slope of a resistance response of the thermal sensor. The processor is further configured to detect a change in the slope relative to a baseline slope. The slope change indicates increased heat sinking between the thermal sensor and the disk due to the presence of contaminant buildup at the head-disk interface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are directed to providing relative movement between a slider configured for heat-assisted magnetic recording and a magnetic recording medium, and causing protrusion of a portion of an air bearing surface (ABS) of the slider in response to activating at least a laser source while maintaining spacing between the protrusion and the medium. A magnitude of at least a portion of the protrusion is measured while maintaining spacing between the protrusion and the medium.

Abstract: In response to a command to update a target track, two tracks or more are concurrently read. The two tracks or more tracks include a top track that partially overlaps the target track. Data of the top track is stored in a memory, and the update data is written over at least part of the target track. The stored data is written on the recording medium over the top track or at a different location.