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Citing its use of proprietary NANOCUBIC and Barium Ferrite (BaFe) particle technologies, FUJIFILM has announced that in conjunction with IBM, a new record in areal data density of 85.9 billion bits per square inch on cost-efficient linear magnetic particulate tape has been achieved. This breakthrough in data density equates to a standard LTO cartridge capable of storing up to 154 terabytes of uncompressed data, which is 62 times greater than today's current LTO6 cartridge capacity. This new record was reached using an advanced prototype tape incorporating NANOCUBIC technology developed by Fujifilm, with advanced tape-drive technologies developed by IBM.

"This data density achievement is significant as corporate data is growing at an incredible rate, and secure and reliable storage remain critical considerations in today's market," said Wolfgang May, Managing Director, FUJIFILM Recording Media GmbH. "Together with our partners at IBM, we have been able to create the basis for extraordinary data density on tape that is fast, cost effective and energy efficient - characteristics that benefit every organisation."

Fujifilm's research addresses previous shortcomings associated with decreasing the magnetic particle size and thermal stability degradation. The enhanced NANOCUBIC technology decreases the BaFe magnetic particle volume, which is essential for high density data recording, while maintaining its thermal stability to ensure long term archivability of recorded data.

Since the surface roughness of tape is directly related to both signal-to-noise ratio and high quality output, NANOCUBIC technology incorporates NANO coating and dispersion techniques to strictly control surface smoothness. In addition, NANO perpendicular orientation precisely aligns the BaFe particles to produce high quality read signal over a wide frequency.

COLLABORATION WITH IBM
This is the third time in less than 10 years that Fujifilm, working with IBM scientists, have achieved such an accomplishment. "The team at IBM has focused on improving head technology to produce significantly stronger magnetic fields needed for improved tape capacity, speed and reliability, while leveraging Fujifilm's advanced NANOCUBIC technology," said Norio Shibata, corporate vice president, FUJIFILM Corporation, Recording Media Products Division. "Looking forward, these large capacity tapes will prove to be the most reliable and affordable storage alternative, satisfying the requirements for Big Data and cloud storage."

To help reach this milestone, IBM researchers developed new technologies, including:

- enhanced write field head that enables the use of much finer BaFe particles

- advanced servo control that allows head positioning with nano-scale fidelity and enables

- a 27 fold increase in track density compared to the LTO6 format

- innovative signal-processing algorithms for the data channel that enable reliable operation with an ultra-narrow 90nm wide giant magnetoresistive (GMR) reader

With the need for tape storage growing exponentially each year, the advantages of tape abound. Tape provides high capacity storage in a small form factor, is reliable for several decades, and features secure data encryption. Tape is the most cost effective and greenest form of storage, using zero power when not in use.

Fujifilm remains committed to developing highly functional materials, and has applied its most advanced materials science to innovate products and solutions in the data storage marketplace. The company's commitment to the category has been demonstrated through its development of high capacity and superior quality data storage media, while maintaining the largest production share of LTO Ultrium tape cartridges in the midrange data storage market.
www.fujifilm.co.uk/recmedia