The Use of System Identification Methods to Evaluate the Effects of Slider-Disk Contacts and Disk Micro-Waviness on the Flying Height Modulations

System identification methods have been used to study the response of a magnetic recording slider during contact with a scratch on the disk surface. In addition, the slider response was studied taking into account the effect of disk micro-waviness at various disk rotational speeds. The simulated slider response was compared with the measured slider dynamic behavior. Very good agreement was found between simulated and measured data. The flying height modulation of the slider, due to disk micro-waviness, was found to depend on disk velocity.