In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a module having a substrate and a closure, an array of transducers in a thin film structure on the substrate, the array being positioned along a tape bearing surface of the module, and a heating element positioned in the thin film structure and recessed from the tape bearing surface, and a controller electrically coupled to the heating element. The controller is configured to apply a current pulse of size, shape and duration sufficient to induce a permanent expansion of the array of transducers.

An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes: a magnetic tape head module having: a substrate and an encapsulation layer which includes a compliant, deformable material. The magnetic tape head module also includes a closure, and a plurality of transducers positioned in an array along a longitudinal length of the magnetic tape head module. The array of transducers is sandwiched between at least a portion of the encapsulation layer and the substrate. Moreover, a portion of the encapsulation layer extends toward the substrate directly between adjacent transducers in the array.

An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes: a magnetic tape head module having: a substrate and an encapsulation layer which includes a compliant, deformable material. The magnetic tape head module also includes a closure, and a plurality of transducers positioned in an array along a longitudinal length of the magnetic tape head module. The array of transducers is sandwiched between at least a portion of the encapsulation layer and the substrate. Moreover, a portion of the encapsulation layer extends toward the substrate directly between adjacent transducers in the array.

An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a module having a tape bearing surface, a magnetic transducer in a thin film region, and an edge closest to the transducer. A guide is positioned relative to the edge for inducing tenting of a moving magnetic recording tape above a tape tenting region of the tape bearing surface. The magnetic transducer is positioned along the tape tenting region. The magnetic transducer is positioned a distance from a location on the tape bearing surface directly under a peak that is more than one-fourth the length from the location directly under the peak to the edge closest thereto.

An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a module having a tape bearing surface, a magnetic transducer in a thin film region, and an edge closest to the transducer. A guide is positioned relative to the edge for inducing tenting of a moving magnetic recording tape above a tape tenting region of the tape bearing surface. The magnetic transducer is positioned along the tape tenting region. The magnetic transducer is positioned a distance from a location on the tape bearing surface directly under a peak that is more than one-fourth the length from the location directly under the peak to the edge closest thereto.

An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a magnetic read transducer comprised of a sensing portion and proximate magnetic shields, and a wear-resistant in-situ film on a media-facing side of the read transducer. The in-situ film is comprised of material derived from a flexible medium. The in-situ film is primarily above the read transducer.

A self servo-write process in performed on two or more recording surfaces simultaneously. In a dual-stage servo system, a first fine positioning servo system that includes a first microactuator independently controls the position of a first read/write head over a first recording surface of a hard disk drive, while a second fine positioning servo system that includes a second microactuator independently controls the position of a second read/write head over a second recording surface of the hard disk drive.

A self servo-write process in performed on two or more recording surfaces simultaneously. In a dual-stage servo system, a first fine positioning servo system that includes a first microactuator independently controls the position of a first read/write head over a first recording surface of a hard disk drive, while a second fine positioning servo system that includes a second microactuator independently controls the position of a second read/write head over a second recording surface of the hard disk drive.

An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes: an array of write transducers. Each of the write transducer include: a first write pole having a pole tip extending from a media facing side of the first write pole, and a second write pole having a pole tip extending from a media facing side of the second write pole. Each of the write transducers also include a nonmagnetic write gap between the pole tips of the write poles, a first high moment layer between the write gap and the pole tip of the second write pole, and a second high moment layer between the write gap and the pole tip of the first write pole. The first and second high moment layers each have a higher magnetic moment than magnetic moments of the pole tips of the second and first write poles, respectively.

An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes: an array of write transducers. Each of the write transducer include: a first write pole having a pole tip extending from a media facing side of the first write pole, and a second write pole having a pole tip extending from a media facing side of the second write pole. Each of the write transducers also include a nonmagnetic write gap between the pole tips of the write poles, a first high moment layer between the write gap and the pole tip of the second write pole, and a second high moment layer between the write gap and the pole tip of the first write pole. The first and second high moment layers each have a higher magnetic moment than magnetic moments of the pole tips of the second and first write poles, respectively.