Writing and reading magnetic transitions on experimental media with high spatial accuracy and resolution is an extremely effective means for understanding and optimizing media. The figure below shows an example of this capability on a hard disk.

To accomplish this on flexible tape media, requires a much different approach than HDD media, since the backside of the flexible media is not smooth enough to allow high spatial resolution. To permit very high spatial resolution, IBM has developed an apparatus for supporting the tape pneumatically and in a carefully controlled manner.

To accomplish this on flexible tape media, requires a much different approach than HDD media, since the backside of the flexible media is not smooth enough to allow high spatial resolution. To permit very high spatial resolution, IBM has developed an apparatus for supporting the tape pneumatically and in a carefully controlled manner.

On the right is an example of a two-dimensional readback image obtained with the drag tester from an Ultrium generation 2 tape. The SNR and the spatial accuracy and resolution allow a detailed examination of the media noise as shown in the bottom part of this figure. The vertical tracks contain isolated transitions written by the contact tester with a period of 5 microns on 1 micron tracks with 1 micron spaces. The thin white and black bands are positive and negative transitions.