Read/write simulation of thermally stabilized magnetic recording media with a thin film head

In order to study the thermal stability of an antiferromagnetically coupled medium and a keepered one with a soft magnetic underlayer, a finite element read/write simulation based on the Poisson equation is performed on the 2D model of the medium and a thin film head system. The model used for the recording layer is a Stoner-Wohlfarth model extended at finite temperatures. As a result, it is found that both media have high thermal stability compared with the conventional medium. (C) 2004 Published by Elsevier B.V.