A theoretical limit to digital pulse resolution in saturation recording

A consistent method of calculating the single transition output voltage pulse shape of maximum resolution is derived. It follows (in a single mathematical step) both components of the magnetization through the demagnetization, remagnetization, flux collection, and differentiation processes appropriate to magnetic head readout. The single mathematical step is that of finding the Fourier transform of the equivalent of the tape-reproduce head transfer function. Such functions have been published previously. In a limiting case the transform is shown to yield the expected simple result. In general, the transform can only be evaluated numerically and this reflects the extreme complexity of the processes involved. Several graphs are shown of computed pulses and finally an appendix gives the peak amplitude 50- and 20-percent half-widths of computed pulses appropriate to a wide range of parameters.