In situ measurements of temperature distribution of air-bearing surface using thermography

We successfully developed an in situ measurement technique to evaluate air-bearing surface (ABS) temperature distribution using infrared thermography. We clearly observed the difference in the ABS temperature distribution; when the slider was loaded on the disk and a writer current was induced, high temperature was. observed only in the vicinity of the head element, whereas high temperature was observed throughout the ABS when the slider was unloaded off the disk.