Tape Based Magnetic Recording: Technology Landscape Comparisons with Hard Disk Drive and Flash Roadmaps

This paper describes the areal density (bits per unit area) roadmap goals for tape based magnetic recording (TAPE) and uses these goals as counterpoints for the areal density roadmap strategies for Hard Disk Drive (HDD) and NAND flash. Technology comparisons described in this paper will show that presently volumetric densities (bits per unit volume) for TAPE, HDD, and NAND are similar and that lithographic requirements (the size of minimum device features used to form the bit cells) for TAPE are less challenging than those for NAND and HDD One result of the technology comparison discussion will be that the potential for sustained annual areal density increase rates for TAPE is significantly greater than that for NAND and HDD due to the present TAPE bit cell area and bit cell volume being a factor of 200 – 300 larger than the respective NAND and HDD bit cell area and volume. Larger bit cell area relative to HDD and NAND means that TAPE areal density will increase with minimum dependencies on forming nanoscale features. Larger bit cell valume relative to HDD and NAND means that TAPE areal density will increase with minimum dependencies on bit stability.