High data rate recording: Moving to 2 Gbit/s.

High data rate recording can be achieved using fast write drivers and fast heads. Advanced short-yoke write heads and write drivers with 450 ps rise time and programmable current overshoot were used to study recording at data rates up to 2 Gbit/s. The head flux rise time causes shifts of recorded transitions. It is well known that current overshoot helps to overcome bandwidth limitations in the write driver, interconnects, and write head. However, excessive overshoot may cause pattern-dependent transition shifts and significant distortions of recorded transitions. We present the data rate performance of short-yoke recording heads, analysis of nonlinear pattern-dependent distortions, and optimization of the write current wave form in the 1-2 Gbit/s range. Simple dibit and tribit patterns were recorded at 2 Gbit/s. Low-distortion recording for arbitrary data patterns was demonstrated at 1.6 Gbit/s after optimization of write current overshoot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]