Genesis and evolution of lubricant moguls

This paper presents studies on lubricant mogul formation when a slider flies over a disk surface. In the range of parameters used in this study, moguls form and reach a steady-state pattern within 100 revolutions. During this period, no significant net lubricant loss is observed in the track. The completion of the full mogul pattern is followed by an asymptotic lubricant loss from the track. The loss was not compensated by an increase in thickness outside the track. It is speculated that this lubricant loss from the disk is initiated when the peak thickness of the moguls exceeds the critical dewetting thickness, therefore allowing an energetically favored process.