2 GBits/in2 dual stripe MR heads

Dual-stripe MR heads with linear density capability of 200 KBPI and track density capability of 11000 TPI have been manufactured. The write head, with a 15 turn coil and a gap length of 0.3 μm, is made of conventionally plated Permalloy for both the leading and trailing poles. The thickness and track width of the trailing pole are 3.5 and 2.1 μm, respectively. The MR elements have a 1.4 μm track width, 1.1 μm stripe height and a 17.5 nm thickness. The shield-to-shield separation is 0.18 μm. The two MR elements are mutually biased and patterned-exchange domain stabilized. Recording tests were performed on a thin-film disk with a coercivity of about 3000 Oe and an M_rt of 0.75 memu/cm². The read-back amplitude is as large as 1.02 mV(p-p), and the 50% roll-off density is as high as 160 kfci. Error rate test with a PRML channel at a data rate of 105 Mbits/s showed that a low on track error rate of 10^-10 and an off-track capability of more than 15% of the track pitch could be easily achieved at a linear density of 200 KBPI and a track density of 11000 TPI