Research

Research Expertise

1. MAGNETIC THIN FILM MEDIA:
   Deposition of high-coercivity and low-noise multi-layer ultra-thin magnetic materials,underlayers, and protective wear-resistant overcoatings on rigid disks and flexible substrates with controlled compositions and microstructures. Correlation of the micro and nano-scale physical and magnetic structures with the macro-magnetic properties, recording performance, intrinsic media noise.
    
2. MAGNETIC THIN FILM HEADS, SENSORS, AND MEMORIES:
   Deposition of low-coercivity, high-saturation flux density, and anisotropic high-permeability multi-layer ultra-thin film magnetic materials with controlled compositions and microstructures. Correlation of the physical and magnetic structures with the static and dynamic macromagnetic properties, magnetic domain instabilities, and device sensitivities.
    
3. MAGNETIC MEASUREMENT TECHNIQUES:
   Develop new ex-situ and in-situ measurement techniques for characterizing the macro, micro, and nano-scale physical and magnetic properties, and limiting mechanisms of high-speed switching and high-frequency magnetic recording, overwriting, and reproduction in ultra-thin film materials used for heads and media in ultra-high density recording storage applications.
    
4. MICROMAGNETIC MODELING:
   Develop 2-D and 3-D computer and large-scale models of ultra-thin film magnetic recording media and heads, writing, overwriting, and reading processes, transition noise, ultra-narrow-track-edge noise, and performance of magnetic sensors and memories taking into account anisotropic exchange, magnetostatic, magnetocrystalline, and magnetoelastic energy interactions.
    
5. MAGNETIC RECORDING AND SIGNAL PROCESSING:
   Measurements of fundamental magnetic recording processes at high areal densities. Characterizations of recording channels for optimizing coding and signal processing. Development of practical data recovery techniques well-suited to high-density, high-speed magnetic recording systems taking into account effects of transition noise, timing jitter, track edge noise, track misregistration, and channel variations.
    
6. TRIBOLOGY OF HEAD-DISK INTERFACE:
   Develop 2-D and 3-D computer models of tribology based on measurements stiction, friction, and wear of the head-disk interface of thin film magnetic recording media and heads taking into account effects of surface roughness, grain size, and intrinsic and applied stresses. Correlate stiction, friction, and wear with mechanical properties, surface roughness, interface adhesion, elastic moduli, microhardness, fracture toughness, and corrosion.of thin films and alternative substrates.

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