Magnetic Recording in Patterned Media at 5-10 Tb/in2

In this paper, the feasibility of patterned media systems able to support areal densities of 5-10 Tb/in(2) is examined. The systems considered used only a conventional write head, without additional electromagnetic devices. Despite the use of a shielded head and contact recording it was impossible to discriminate reliably between bits at 10 Tb/in(2). Areal densities of around 5 Tb/in(2) appear feasible, but only if geometrical and material parameter dispersions are minimized. Including such dispersions reduced the maximum areal density to around 4 Tb/in(2).