MULTILEVEL AND THREEDIMENSIONAL NANOMAGNETIC RECORDING - Bio-Inspired and Nanoscale Integrated Computing - page 175

6
MULTILEVEL AND THREE-
DIMENSIONAL
NANOMAGNETIC RECORDING
S. Khizroev, R. Chomko, I. Dumer, and D. Litvinov
This chapter outlines a study of multilevel (ML) and three-dimensional (3D)
magnetic recording—a nanomagnetic recording technology suitable for informa-
tion storage densities above 10 Tbit/in 2 . To comply with the multilevel signal
configuration, ML magnetic recording exploits a 3D head/media system powered
with next-generation data coding methods. It is believed, when that combined
with novel information processing techniques, relatively cost effective ML systems
could be scaled down to a single-grain spin level, thus enabling memory with
effective areal densities above 100 Tbit/in 2 .
6.1. INTRODUCTION
6.1.1. Information Industries in Need of Alternative
Storage Technologies
Demand for larger areal density of storage and memory devices is growing
exponentially with the emergence of the Internet, explosive growth of broadband
communication, increasingly complex multimedia mobile devices, and the rapid
expansion of on-demand databases serving multinational businesses. Magnetic
recording has been the mainstream data storage technology for more than four
decades [1, 2]. After aggressive attempts to extend the life of longitudinal magnetic
recording, the data storage industry is finally coming to terms with reality [3, 4].
Researchers, indeed, witness that the recorded data become highly unstable as the
areal density increases beyond approximately 200Gbit/in 2 . A number of technol-
ogies have been proposed by research teams all over the world to address the
fundamental (superparamagnetic) limit. The closest alternatives are believed to be