Gas film lubrication in magnetic disk storage: solution by the DSMC method

The two-dimensional nonstationary problem of gas flow in the channel with an inclined upper wall and moving lower wall is studied by the DSMC method. This is a model of gas film lubrication which occurs in magnetic disk storage. By implementing the numerical results of an appropriate Raleigh problem as the boundary conditions for this flow the realistic microscopic conditions at the inlet and outlet of the channel were secured. Space and time distributions of the pressure on the upper wall as well as velocity profiles in the channel were obtained. It is shown that as lower time scale as $10^{-9}$ is sufficient for noticeable variations of the values of the basic parameters.