In one general approach, an apparatus includes a sensor having an active tunnel magnetoresistive region, magnetic shields flanking the active tunnel magnetoresistive region, and gaps between the active tunnel magnetoresistive region and the magnetic shields. The active tunnel magnetoresistive region includes a free layer, a tunnel barrier layer and a reference layer. At least one of the gaps includes a seed layer of a chromium alloy and an electrically conductive layer having a refractory material formed on the seed layer. The seed layer in this configuration is more resistant to corrosion than elemental chromium when used in a magnetic recording head and/or in a structure exposed to even trace amounts of fluorine.

A magnetic tape apparatus, in which a tilt cos of the hexagonal ferrite powder with respect to a surface of the magnetic layer acquired by cross section observation by STEM is 0.85 to 1.00, a reading element unit includes a plurality of reading elements each of which reads data by a linear scanning method from a specific track region including a reading target track in a track region included in the magnetic tape, an extraction unit performs a waveform equalization process according to a deviation amount between positions of the magnetic tape and the reading element unit, with respect to each reading result for each reading element, to extract data derived from the reading target track from the reading result, and the deviation amount is determined in accordance with a result obtained by reading of the servo pattern included in the magnetic layer by a servo element.

A magnetic tape apparatus, in which a tilt cos of the hexagonal ferrite powder with respect to a surface of the magnetic layer acquired by cross section observation by STEM is 0.85 to 1.00, a reading element unit includes a plurality of reading elements each of which reads data by a linear scanning method from a specific track region including a reading target track in a track region included in the magnetic tape, an extraction unit performs a waveform equalization process according to a deviation amount between positions of the magnetic tape and the reading element unit, with respect to each reading result for each reading element, to extract data derived from the reading target track from the reading result, and the deviation amount is determined in accordance with a result obtained by reading of the servo pattern included in the magnetic layer by a servo element.

An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes: a plurality of tunnel valve read transducers arranged in an array extending along a read module. Each of the tunnel valve read transducers includes: a sensor structure having a cap layer, a free layer, a tunnel barrier layer, a reference layer and an antiferromagnetic layer, and electrically insulating layers on opposite sides of the sensor structure. Moreover, a height of the free layer measured in a direction perpendicular to a media bearing surface of the read module is less than a width of the free layer measured in a cross-track direction perpendicular to an intended direction of media travel.

An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes: a plurality of tunnel valve read transducers arranged in an array extending along a read module. Each of the tunnel valve read transducers includes: a sensor structure having a cap layer, a free layer, a tunnel barrier layer, a reference layer and an antiferromagnetic layer, and electrically insulating layers on opposite sides of the sensor structure. Moreover, a height of the free layer measured in a direction perpendicular to a media bearing surface of the read module is less than a width of the free layer measured in a cross-track direction perpendicular to an intended direction of media travel.

A magnetic tape apparatus, in which an intensity ratio of peak intensity of diffraction peak of (110) plane with respect to peak intensity of diffraction peak of (114) plane of a hexagonal ferrite crystal structure obtained by XRD analysis of the magnetic layer by In-Plane method is 0.5 to 4.0, a vertical squareness ratio of the magnetic tape is 0.65 to 1.00, a reading element unit includes a plurality of reading elements each of which reads data by a linear scanning method from a specific track region including a reading target track in a track region included in the magnetic tape, and an extraction unit performs a waveform equalization process according to a deviation amount between positions of the magnetic tape and the reading element unit, with respect to each reading result for each reading element, to extract data derived from the reading target track from the reading result.

A magnetic tape apparatus, in which an intensity ratio of peak intensity of diffraction peak of (110) plane with respect to peak intensity of diffraction peak of (114) plane of a hexagonal ferrite crystal structure obtained by XRD analysis of the magnetic layer by In-Plane method is 0.5 to 4.0, a vertical squareness ratio of the magnetic tape is 0.65 to 1.00, a reading element unit includes a plurality of reading elements each of which reads data by a linear scanning method from a specific track region including a reading target track in a track region included in the magnetic tape, and an extraction unit performs a waveform equalization process according to a deviation amount between positions of the magnetic tape and the reading element unit, with respect to each reading result for each reading element, to extract data derived from the reading target track from the reading result.

A magnetic tape apparatus includes a magnetic tape, a reading element unit and an extraction unit, in which the magnetic tape includes a non-magnetic support, and a magnetic layer including a ferromagnetic powder and a binding agent on the non-magnetic support, a logarithmic decrement acquired by a pendulum viscoelasticity test performed regarding a surface of the magnetic layer is equal to or smaller than 0.050, and an extraction unit performs a waveform equalization process according to a deviation amount between positions of the magnetic tape and the reading element unit, with respect to each reading result for each reading element, to extract data derived from the reading target track from the reading result.

A magnetic tape apparatus includes a magnetic tape, a reading element unit and an extraction unit, in which the magnetic tape includes a non-magnetic support, and a magnetic layer including a ferromagnetic powder and a binding agent on the non-magnetic support, a logarithmic decrement acquired by a pendulum viscoelasticity test performed regarding a surface of the magnetic layer is equal to or smaller than 0.050, and an extraction unit performs a waveform equalization process according to a deviation amount between positions of the magnetic tape and the reading element unit, with respect to each reading result for each reading element, to extract data derived from the reading target track from the reading result.

An apparatus configured to characterize a magnetic recording tape of a tape cartridge, according to one embodiment, includes a magnetic head having servo readers of known pitch, a drive mechanism for passing a magnetic recording tape over the magnetic head, and a controller electrically coupled to the magnetic head. The controller is configured to measure, using signals from the magnetic head, a servo band difference at various locations along a length of the magnetic recording tape of a tape cartridge. The controller is also configured to store the servo band difference measurements and/or derivatives thereof in association with the tape cartridge.