A hard disc drive includes a slider including a first reader and a second reader. The hard disc drive also includes a magnetic recording medium and a controller. The controller is configured to determine a distance between the slider and the magnetic recording medium based at least in part on amplitudes of read signals from both the first reader and the second reader.

An apparatus comprises a slider configured for magnetic recording. The slider comprises an air bearing surface (ABS), a writer, a reader, and a plurality of electrical bond pads. A thermocouple is situated at the ABS proximate the reader and coupled to a pair of the electrical bond pads. The thermocouple is dimensioned to sense for a thermal asperity on a surface of a magnetic recording medium.

According to one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a reproducing portion. The reproducing portion includes first to fourth magnetic portions and a stacked body. The third magnetic portion is provided between the first and second magnetic portions. The fourth magnetic portion is provided between the first and second magnetic portions. A second direction from the third magnetic portion toward the fourth magnetic portion crosses a first direction from the first magnetic portion toward the second magnetic portion. The stacked body is provided between the first and second magnetic portions in the first direction and between the third and fourth magnetic portions in the second direction. The stacked body includes a first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer provided between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic portion in the first direction, and an intermediate layer provided between the first and second magnetic layers in the first direction.

An exchange-coupled film according to the present invention includes an antiferromagnetic layer, pinned magnetic layer, and free magnetic layer which are stacked. The antiferromagnetic layer is composed of a PtCr sublayer and an X-Mn sublayer (where X is Pt or Ir). The X-Mn sublayer is in contact with the pinned magnetic layer. The PtCr sublayer has a composition represented by the formula Pt.sub.Cr.sub.100at %- ( is 44 at % to 58 at %) when the XMn sublayer is placed on the PtCr sublayer or has a composition represented by the formula Pt.sub.Cr.sub.100 at %- ( is 44 at % to 57 at %) when the XMn sublayer is placed on the pinned magnetic layer.

An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes: an array of write transducers. Each of the write transducers 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, and a first high moment layer between the write gap and the pole tip of the second write pole. The first high moment layer further includes a higher magnetic moment than a magnetic moment of the pole tip of the second write pole. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in additional embodiments.

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.

In one general embodiment, an apparatus includes a module having a tape bearing surface and an array of write transducers extending along the tape bearing surface. Each write transducer has a first write pole having a pole tip extending from a media facing side of the first write pole, a second write pole having a pole tip extending from a media facing side of the second write pole, a nonmagnetic write gap between the pole tips of the write poles, and a high moment layer between the pole tips of the write poles. The high moment layer has a higher magnetic moment than a magnetic moment of the pole tip of the second write pole. The tape bearing surface of the module has patterning, and/or a first tape tenting region where each write transducer is positioned in the first tape tenting region.

An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a module having a plurality of tunnel valve read transducers arranged in an array extending along the tape bearing surface of the module. Each of the tunnel valve read transducers has upper and lower shields for providing magnetic shielding. A sensor structure is positioned between the shields. An electrical lead layer is positioned between the sensor structure and one of the shields. The electrical lead layer is in electrical communication with the sensor structure. A spacer layer is positioned between the electrical lead layer and the one of the shields. A conductivity of the electrical lead layer is higher than a conductivity of the spacer layer. At least some of the sensor structures are recessed from a plane extending along the tape bearing surface. An at least partially polycrystalline coating is positioned on a media facing side of the recessed sensor structures.

An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a module having a tape bearing surface and a plurality of tunnel valve read transducers arranged in an array extending along the tape bearing surface of the module. Each of the tunnel valve read transducers includes a sensor structure having a free layer, a tunnel barrier layer, and a reference layer. At least some of the sensor structures are recessed from a plane extending along the tape bearing surface. An at least partially polycrystalline coating is positioned on a media facing side of the recessed sensor structures.

An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a module having a tape bearing surface. The tape bearing surface extends between first and second edges of the module. A first tape tenting region extends from the first edge along the tape bearing surface toward the second edge. Each tunnel valve read transducer is positioned in the first tape tenting region. A plurality of tunnel valve read transducers are arranged in an array extending along the tape bearing surface of the module in the first tape tenting region. Each of the tunnel valve read transducers includes a sensor structure having a tunnel barrier layer. At least some of the sensor structures are recessed from a plane extending along the tape bearing surface. An at least partially polycrystalline coating is located on a media facing side of the recessed sensor structures.