Subambient pressure slider for constant flying height

摘要

An air bearing slider for carrying a read/write element in relation to a rotating disk. The slider comprises a slider body defined by two longitudinal side edges and an air bearing surface including at least a first and a second longitudinally extending rail. Each rail is defined by a leading rail edge substantially surrounded by a step region and having angled faces for contact with varying directional air flow. The air bearing surface may also include leading and trailing rail edges that alternately extend away from the side edges of the slider body. A subambient pressure region may also be generally defined by the step region and inner edges of the longitudinally extending rails.