Nanoscale interface mechanics with application to magnetic storage

The study of the mechanics and dynamics of nanoscale interfaces is of great interest, particularly for cutting-edge applications such as magnetic storage, which arguably constitutes the most successful application of nanotechnology. The goal in magnetic storage is to increase the recording density by reducing the physical spacing between the magnetic layer of the disk and the recording elements, which, in commercial hard disk drives, is of the order of few nanometers. Achieving this goal entails the understanding of the physics at the head-disk interface and being able to reliably predict system performance in terms of flyability and contact. This dissertation presents continuum, physics-based models of the head-disk interface that were validated through comparisons with experimental and atomistic simulation data. A novel model is presented for dynamic contact with molecularly thin lubricant layers that exhibit solid-like responses under extremely high shear rates. The limits of continuum theory were investigated based on experimentally measured response of such lubricant layers and accounted for during lubricant contact. The comprehensive models were used to investigate and optimize the design of hard disk drives for near-contact recording. Having reached the physical limits of traditional magnetic recording, these models should prove useful in the design and implementation of future nanotechnologies.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Mechanical Engineering

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2012

Author dc:creator

• Vakis, Antonis

Contributors dc:contributor

• Hadjicostis, Christoforos N.
• Polycarpou, Andreas A.
• Bergman, Lawrence A.
• Chasiotis, Ioannis

• Nanotechnology
• magnetic storage
• hard-disk drives
• head-disk interface
• dynamics
• contact
• friction
• Lubrication
• solid mechanics
• tribology
• multi-scale modeling

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2011 Antonis Iacovou Vakis

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/29800

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/29800