Direct Simulation Monte Carlo Method for the Simulation of Rarefied Gas Flow in Discrete Track Recording Head/Disk Interfaces

The direct simulation Monte Carlo method is used to study rarefied gas flow between an inclined plane slider bearing and a nanochannel representing one groove in discrete track recording head/disk interfaces. The forces acting on the slider are determined as a function of slider pitch angle, disk velocity, groove pitch, width, and groove depth. It is found that the influence of manufacturing tolerances on slider forces is smaller for deep and wide grooves than for the case of shallow and narrow grooves.