International Business Machines Corporation

Artur Lang

Klaus Goedicke

Holger Hinkel

Werner Steiner

Torsten Winkler

Gerhard Elsner

Upali Bandara

Werner Zapka

Volker Heinrich

Michael Junghahnel

Dieter W Meyer

Manfred Muller

Hans-Herrmann Schneider

Rainer C Schneider

Erwin Prinz

A method and apparatus for depositing an underlayer and/or a magnetic thin film layer on a data storage disk are described. The sputtering power is supplied in the form of pulses during the application of the underlayer and/or magnetic storage to periodically ignite the plasma and increase the charge-carrier density in the sputtering chamber. The repetition frequency and parameters for the pulses and pauses between pulses are adjusted to achieve a desired nominal value for the coercive field strength of the magnetic layer. Preferably the repetition frequency of the power switching is from 10 to 80 kHz and the ratio of pulse length to pulse pause is within 5:1 to 1:5.

Pulsed DC sputtering method of thin film magnetic disks

Method for measuring the properties of a slider/disk interface in a magnetic disk storage apparatus by measuring a triboelectric current flowing between disk and slider. Rotational speed is adjusted between 100 and 500 rpm so as to obtain a frictional contact between disk and slider. The shape of the tribo current curve obtained during the measuring time interval is analyzed. An early maximum of the tribo current amplitude and a subsequent continual decay indicates a good slider/disk interface and a long lifetime.

System for testing magnetic head/disk interfaces

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Worms, Germany

Artur Lang