System, method, and apparatus for improving the multiple velocity performance and write element protrusion compensation of disk drive sliders

An air bearing design enables a slider to fly at a higher fly height when the rotational speed of the disk is reduced to about one-third of its operational velocity. In addition, the slider has a flat profile as it scans the disk surface at a low fly height sigma, and low fly height loss during track seek and high altitude operation. This design also provides write protrusion compensation and thereby mitigates spacing losses due to the write current swelling of the write element protrusion. The leading region of the rear pad of the air bearing is mildly concave. This design produces unexpected results by compressing incoming air flow in such a way that, even under two very different velocities, good air bearing lift is generated while compensating for write element protrusion.