Molecular Dynamics Simulations as a lens into magnetic storage physics

Heat-Assisted Magnetic Recording (HAMR) stands at the forefront of next-generation data storage technologies, offering a promising path to significantly increase the areal density of hard disk drives. Recent advancements have brought HAMR from an idea to a reality, particularly through innovations in component miniaturization. As these components operate at the nanoscale, understanding their behavior requires tools capable of capturing atomic-level interactions. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations provide a powerful framework for exploring the complex physics governing the optical elements of the recording head and the thermal properties of the media. By leveraging MD, we can gain deeper insights into the fundamental mechanisms that drive HAMR performance.