Optimization of one-sided pole heads

Summary form only given. Areal data density in longitudinal recording will be limited by the thermal stability of the recorded bits. The stability of perpendicularly recorded transitions increases with density and hence perpendicular recording is expected to supersede the current longitudinal technology. Raising the coercivity of the medium increases the thermal stability of the recorded bits but a write field capable of recording on such a medium must be achieved. Single pole heads have been developed for perpendicular recording in order to achieve a predominantly vertical field. In practice there must be a return pole too. Here a 2D analytical model is used to investigate the effect of the geometry of the main pole and its return path on the strength and the direction of the field in the medium.