HAMR recording challenges at high linear densities

HAMR technology has experienced big advances in just this last year but hurdles still abound and need to be resolved before HAMR can fulfill its full potential for both lifetime and areal density capability [1,2]. A few of these challenges are directly tied to component optical, thermal and magnetic designs. Specifically, from a media perspective, in-plane grains and grain size distribution are a major concern limiting the linear density capability of the HAMR system. Assuming that high enough thermal gradients are achieved, bit curvature also limits the resolution of the system and needs to be better characterized and addressed. Many of these issues are exclusive of HAMR recording. Thus, they present new challenges but also new opportunities for workarounds and innovation in the magnetic recording industry; something our industry is famous for overcoming.