Investigation of disk damage caused during load/unload using a surface reflectance analyzer

Wear of the carbon layer of a magnetic recording disk is investigated during load/unload using a surface reflectance analyzer (SRA). Wear is determined as a function of the number of the load/unload (L/UL) cycles, the vertical head speed, the disk rotational speed, and the air bearing design. Two types of subambient pressure sliders are used in the experiments, the difference between the two designs being related to the size and position of the subambient pressure region. The load/unload behavior of the two slider types is determined numerically using a finite element air bearing simulator.