Magnetoresistive read magnetic recording head offtrack performance assessment

Simple equations that characterize the offtrack performance of magnetic recording heads with magnetoresistive read are derived. The validity of the equations is illustrated with experimental data. It is shown how these equations can be used to derive the optimum write and read trackwidth for a given application or to derive the track-density potential of a given head. Only one parameter, called the k-factor, is used in addition to the physical head trackwidth. The k-factor can be readily found experimentally for a given design, and once it is known, the design optimization becomes relatively simple