Micromagnetic predictions of bit decay caused by thermal fluctuations over long time scales

Thermal decay in magnetic recording media increases with time, consequently decreasing the signal-to-noise ratio. A recently developed scaling technique, based on the equivalence of time and temperature within micromagnetics, has been used to predict bit decay over long time scales. An ideal square-wave field is used to record bits in thin film magnetic recording media. Comparison of bit thermal stability for longitudinal and perpendicular thin film media with similar KuV/kT is carried out at recording densities from 50 to 400 Gbit/in.2. Bit decay in a Co/Pd superlattice film at ∼100Gbit/in.2 is also studied. [copyright] 2001 American Institute of Physics