Method and apparatus for precessional switching of the magnetization of a storage medium using a transverse write field

A method of magnetically recording information on a magnetic recording medium having an easy axis of magnetization, the method comprising the steps of:

• determining a magnetization orientation direction of a bit previously recorded in the magnetic recording medium along the easy axis of magnetization;
• comparing the determined magnetization orientation direction of the previously recorded bit with a magnetization orientation direction of a bit to be recorded;
• and
• if the compared magnetization orientation directions of the previously recorded bit and the bit to be recorded are different, applying a magnetic field to the previously recorded bit in the magnetic recording medium substantially along an axis perpendicular to the determined magnetization orientation direction of the previously recorded bit,
• wherein the magnetic field is applied for a select period of time sufficient to switch the magnetization orientation direction of the previously recorded bit from the determined magnetization orientation direction to the magnetization orientation direction of the bit to be recorded which is substantially anti-parallel to the determined magnetization orientation direction and along the magnetic recording medium's easy axis of magnetization.