A novel methodology has been introduced to map slider-disk interactions and, thus, study the potential of magnetic decay caused by such interactions. Investigations are focused on the visualization of such interactions. The methodology is based on a specially prepared disk which is of a structure same as the conventional magnetic disk except using a magnetooptical (MO) layer, which is of low Curie temperature, to replace the magnetic layer of the magnetic disk media. Interactions that generate a temperature above the Curie temperature of the MO material will be recorded, visualized and analyzed by optical and magnetic tools. It is noticed that the signatures of the interactions recorded are mainly line-like. Results also indicate that slider-disk contact during the interaction process is also a contact vibration process and the vibration frequency is not a constant. Results presented in this work also show the unique advantage of the proposed method in visualizing severe slider-disk interaction which cannot be revealed by either atomic force microscopy (AFM) or high-resolution observation of carbon wear or lubricant degradation with optical surface analyzers.
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