This text explains how hard disk drives operate, how billions of bytes of digital information are stored and accessed, and where the technology is going. In particular, the book emphasizes the most fundamental principles of magnetic information storage, including in-depth knowledge of both magnetics and signal processing methods. Magnetic Information Storage Technology contains many graphic illustrations and an introduction of alternative storage technologies, such as optic disk recording, holographic recording, semiconductor flash memory, and magnetic random access memory.

* Provides the fundamentals of magnetic information storage and contrasts it with a comparison of alternative storage technologies
* Addresses the subject at the materials, device and system levels
* Addresses the needs of the multi-billion-dollar-a year magnetic recording and information storage industry
* Emphasizes both theoretical and experimental concepts
* Condenses current knowledge on magnetic information storage technology into one self-contained volume
* Suitable for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as seasoned researchers, engineers and professionals in data and information storage fields

The exponential growth in information technologies has resulted in an explosion in the need for data storage with increased speed and reliability. These requirements have caused rapid development of complex magnetic materials and structures. The rate of technology development has led to a situation where the performance envelope of new materials is not fully known until the materials are fabricated into devices. In response to this, the focus of this book, first published in 2001, is not only on magnetic materials, but also on techniques and technology associated with device fabrication. The work presented in this book effectively spans the range of the myriad of information storage research from concept to product. Topics include: patterned magnetic recording media; characterization of magnetic thin films and structures; magnetic tunnel junctions and spin-dependent transport; GMR and spin valves; media/GMR/CMR; writer materials and characteristics; and magnetic structure processing techniques.