Sub-mm disk waviness characteristics and slider flying dynamics under thermal FH control

Abstract The flying dynamics and flying stability of a slider are the key issues at sub-5 nm flying height (FH) under thermal FH control. The resonant frequencies of current sliders are at 100 kHz level. At present linear disk velocities, the disk waviness at sub-mm level and 10 micron level can excite the resonant modes of the slider and induce FH modulation. This work uses the triple-harmonic method to monitor the dynamic FH signal during the process of thermal FH control. As the FH reduces, the same disk waviness characteristics excite larger dynamic FH modulation.