Feasibility Study of Implementing Simple Dual-bit Detection in Dual-Layer Bit-Patterned Magnetic Recording Systems

Abstract

Dual-layer bit-patterned magnetic recording (DL-BPMR) systems, which combine bit-patterned magnetic recording (BPMR) and multi-layer magnetic recording technologies, are expected to increase the areal density (AD) of data storage up to 10 Terabits per square inch. However, to achieve this goal, several challenges must be overcome, including low response signals from the lower layer and interlayer interference. Therefore, this work proposes a signal processing technique to reduce the number of erroneous bits at the receiver. A simple dual-bit detection (SD-BD) method is proposed. Simulation results comparing the performance of a single-layer BPMR system with that of a DL-BPMR system using the SD-BD signal processing technique show that the latter can effectively reduce the bit error rate. The results indicate that the SD-BD technique has the potential to improve the read accuracy of the DL-BPMR system and is an essential step towards the future development of data recording technologies with higher AD.