Journal of Applied Physics

Using synchrotron radiation at SPring-8 - a large-scale synchrotron radiation facility - Tohoku University, Toshiba Corporation, and the Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute (JASRI) have successfully imaged the magnetization dynamics of a hard disk drive (HDD) write head for the first time, with a precision of one ten-billionth of a second. The method makes possible precise analysis of write head operations, accelerating the development of the next-generation write heads and further increasing HDD capacity.

Researchers at the Center for Innovative Integrated Electronic Systems (CIES) at Tohoku University have successfully observed microscopic chemical bonding states in ultrathin MgO - an important determinant in STT-MRAM performance. The observation was carried out via an angle-resolved hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (AR-HAXPES) in collaboration with Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute (JASRI) at its Spring-8 Synchrotron Radiation facility.

Nanocrystalline shape memory alloys lose their memory as the crystalline grains get smaller.

A 2.5-dimensional magnetic recording scheme could help break the data density barrier.

A multifunctional testing instrument helps improve production of laser-heated hard disk drives with enhanced storage capacities

Magnetic materials that change their properties when heated could pack more data on to hard drives

Generating and sustaining electrical currents with unique properties for information processing comes closer to reality after a successful theoretical demonstration

Characterization of the thermal processes involved in heat-assisted magnetic recording paves the way for commercial devices