Characterization of media cross-track thermal profile in heat-assisted magnetic recording

In the heat-assisted magnetic recording, the thermal profile of the media affects the recording performance seriously. Unfortunately, there is no direct method to measure it dynamically. In this paper, an indirect method is proposed to characterize the cross-track thermal profile with the spin-stand. The experimental results indicate that the local temperature increase has nonlinear relationship with the laser power. As the laser power increases, the thermal profile width increases. The media has a higher temperature increase and a bigger thermal profile at a slower rotation speed. The reasons for these phenomena are explained as well.