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 (DSMC) is used to study rarefied gas flow between an inclined plane slider bearing and a nano channel representing one groove in a discrete track recording head/disk interface. The forces acting on the slider are investigated as a function of slider pitch angle, disk velocity, track pitch, groove width, and groove depth. The influence of the absolute groove size on the slider forces is found to be small.