According to one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a first magnetic pole, a second magnetic pole, and a magnetic element provided between the first and the second magnetic poles. The magnetic element includes first to fifth magnetic layers, and first to sixth non-magnetic layers. The sixth non-magnetic layer is provided between the fifth magnetic layer and the second magnetic pole. The sixth non-magnetic layer includes at least one selected from the group consisting of Cu, Au, Cr, Al, V and Ag.

According to one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a first magnetic pole, a second magnetic pole, and a magnetic element provided between the first and the second magnetic poles. The magnetic element includes first to fifth magnetic layers, and first to sixth non-magnetic layers. The sixth non-magnetic layer is provided between the fifth magnetic layer and the second magnetic pole. The sixth non-magnetic layer includes at least one selected from the group consisting of Cu, Au, Cr, Al, V and Ag.

According to one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a first magnetic pole, a second magnetic pole, and a magnetic element provided between the first and the second magnetic poles. The magnetic element includes first to fifth magnetic layers, and first to sixth non-magnetic layers. The fifth magnetic layer includes a first element and at least one of Fe, Co or Ni. The first element includes at least one selected from the group consisting of Cr, V, Mn, Ti, N and Sc. The fifth non-magnetic layer includes at least one selected from the group consisting of Ru, Ir, Ta, Rh, Pd, Pt and W. The sixth non-magnetic layer includes at least one selected from the group consisting of Cu, Au, Cr, Al, V and Ag.

A storage device includes a storage controller that controls a writer to generate a magnetic field at an air-bearing surface (ABS) of a storage medium and to selectively alter a strength of the magnetic field by a predetermined amount when writing data to select data tracks on the storage medium.

Write commands in a shingled magnetic recording (SMR) drive are efficiently executed when a write command and associated write data are received by an SMR HDD from a host while the target SMR band for storing the write data is undergoing a refresh operation. In response to the write command, the HDD suspends the refresh operation, stores the write data in nonvolatile memory, and informs the host that the write command has been completed. After the write data are stored in nonvolatile memory, the HDD resumes the refresh operation, and the remaining unrefreshed data in the target SMR band are refreshed by being rewritten to the spare SMR band. The nonvolatile memory can include the spare SMR band in some instances, the target SMR band in some instances, and in both the spare SMR band and the target SMR band in some instances.

Example control circuitry, data storage devices, and methods to use dual servo channels for burst gain switching are described. The data storage device may include two servo channels, such as the dual channels in a two-dimensional magnetic recording channel, that receive read signals for the same servo sector in parallel. One channel is calibrated to use a gain value for a first portion of the servo pattern, such as the preamble and Gray code for the servo address mark, and the other channel is calibrated to use a different gain value for a second portion of the servo pattern, such as the burst pattern. The resulting signal values may then be combined to determine the position error signal. Both channels may be configured to use different gain values for different portions of the read signal with corresponding gain switching and combining them may use the most reliable portions of each signal.

Example control circuitry, data storage devices, and methods to use dual servo channels for burst gain switching are described. The data storage device may include two servo channels, such as the dual channels in a two-dimensional magnetic recording channel, that receive read signals for the same servo sector in parallel. One channel is calibrated to use a gain value for a first portion of the servo pattern, such as the preamble and Gray code for the servo address mark, and the other channel is calibrated to use a different gain value for a second portion of the servo pattern, such as the burst pattern. The resulting signal values may then be combined to determine the position error signal. Both channels may be configured to use different gain values for different portions of the read signal with corresponding gain switching and combining them may use the most reliable portions of each signal.

Example control circuitry, data storage devices, and methods to use dual servo channels for burst gain switching are described. The data storage device may include two servo channels, such as the dual channels in a two-dimensional magnetic recording channel, that receive read signals for the same servo sector in parallel. One channel is calibrated to use a gain value for a first portion of the servo pattern, such as the preamble and Gray code for the servo address mark, and the other channel is calibrated to use a different gain value for a second portion of the servo pattern, such as the burst pattern. The resulting signal values may then be combined to determine the position error signal. Both channels may be configured to use different gain values for different portions of the read signal with corresponding gain switching and combining them may use the most reliable portions of each signal.

Example control circuitry, data storage devices, and methods to use dual servo channels for burst gain switching are described. The data storage device may include two servo channels, such as the dual channels in a two-dimensional magnetic recording channel, that receive read signals for the same servo sector in parallel. One channel is calibrated to use a gain value for a first portion of the servo pattern, such as the preamble and Gray code for the servo address mark, and the other channel is calibrated to use a different gain value for a second portion of the servo pattern, such as the burst pattern. The resulting signal values may then be combined to determine the position error signal. Both channels may be configured to use different gain values for different portions of the read signal with corresponding gain switching and combining them may use the most reliable portions of each signal.