Advances in magnetic tapes for high density information storage

Experimental Metal Particle tapes are demonstrated to generate higher output and narrower pulse widths than commercial Hi8 Metal Evaporated tape. Based on simple signal to noise considerations, we discuss the recording limits of MP, ME and barium ferrite for high density digital recording. Although we find the ME tape to be capable of sustaining the highest areal densities, the difference between ME tape and the particulate tapes is rather small so that we believe no technology switch to ME tape is necessary.