Slider-disk clearance characterisation and optimisation for high-reliability magnetic hard disk drives

This paper deals with the tribological reliability and durability issues in modern magnetic recording hard disk drives where the slider flies over the disk at distances typically less than 10 nm and at linear velocities of dozens meters per second. Specifically, we address the slider-disk clearance, which is known to have a major impact on HDD reliability. We discuss clearance-measuring techniques, the theoretical relationship between the clearance and reliability, and the relative contributions of different factors such as disk surface roughness, slider dynamic pitch, and disk lubricant properties to the overall drive performance.