Perpendicular magnetic recording -- Evolution and future

This paper reviews research results for the head, medium and recording properties of a perpendicular recording system. Superior bit density characteristics obtained so far indicate that perpendicular recording is basically free from demagnetization in the high density region and that it will establish a new field of recording technology in the future. The prediction is explained in the context of complementary profiles of longitudinal and perpendicular recording. At the very beginning of magnetic recording, a perpendicular-type head was considered but abandoned because a suitable medium did not exist. Progress in material science has enabled us to develop a perpendicular recording medium which is very well suited for ultra high density recording. As so often happens, history has repeated itself through another study of perpendicular recording.