According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk device which supplies, at the time of startup of data write or startup of data read, electric power higher than steady electric power used to make, in advance, spacing between a magnetic disk and a magnetic head become saturated at a target value to a heater of the magnetic head for a specified time and, after an elapse of the specified time, gradually reduces the electric power to be supplied to the heater of the magnetic head to the steady electric power.

A data storage device may have increased signal-to-noise ratio contact detection by employing a transducing head associated with a data storage medium each connected to a controller. The transducing head can have an alternating current heater excited to a first frequency for a first revolution of the data storage medium and to a different second frequency for a second revolution of the data storage medium. The second frequency may produce lateral transducing head motion as a result of physical contact of the transducing head with the data storage medium. The controller can issue a contact status in response to comparing a first plurality of position error signals logged during the first frequency to a second plurality of position error signals logged during the second frequency.

A magnetic head includes a head slider. The head slider includes a contact surface corresponding to a disk body, and the contact surface is a flat surface. The contact surface is coated with at least one smooth atomic-scale coating formed by a two-dimensional atomic crystal material. The head slider atomically contacts with the disk body.

An apparatus includes a module having a tape bearing surface, a first edge, and a second edge, where a first tape tenting region of the tape bearing surface extends from the first edge toward the second edge, and a second tape tenting region of the tape bearing surface extends from the second edge toward the first edge. A first guide is positioned for inducing a first tenting of a moving magnetic recording tape above the first tape tenting region, and a second guide is positioned for inducing a second tenting of the moving magnetic recording tape above the second tape tenting region. A sensor is located in a thin film region of the module. The sensor has a free layer. The sensor is positioned between the first tape tenting region and the second tape tenting region of the tape bearing surface.

According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk device which supplies, at the time of startup of data write or startup of data read, electric power higher than steady electric power used to make, in advance, spacing between a magnetic disk and a magnetic head become saturated at a target value to a heater of the magnetic head for a specified time and, after an elapse of the specified time, gradually reduces the electric power to be supplied to the heater of the magnetic head to the steady electric power.

Determining quality metrics of a magnetic tape recording medium. A production module that includes a write element that writes magnetic transitions to the magnetic tape is substantially in constant physical engagement with the magnetic tape. A supplemental module that includes one or more read elements periodically physically engages the magnetic tape, and the read elements generate an electrical signal corresponding to transitions written to the magnetic recording medium by a write element. A computer receives information representative of the electrical signal and determines if a quality metric of the magnetic recording medium derived from the electrical signal is within a defined range. If the quality metric is not within the defined range, a defined action is performed by the computer.