An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a first read transducer having a tunnel valve structure, and a second read transducer coupled to the first read transducer. The second read transducer has a tunnel valve structure as well, but the tunnel valve structure of the first read transducer has a different resistivity than the tunnel valve structure of the second read transducer. An apparatus according to another embodiment includes an array of first read transducers, each first read transducer having a tunnel valve structure. At least a second read transducer is coupled to the first read transducers, the second read transducer having a tunnel valve structure. The tunnel valve structure of the first read transducer has a different resistivity than the tunnel valve structure of the second read transducer.

A plurality of servo patterns are recorded in a magnetic tape along a longitudinal direction. The servo pattern is at least one linear magnetization region pair. The linear magnetization region pair includes a first linear magnetization region, which is linearly magnetized, and a second linear magnetization region, which is linearly magnetized. The first linear magnetization region and the second linear magnetization region are inclined in opposite directions with respect to a first imaginary straight line along a width direction of the magnetic tape. The first linear magnetization region has a steeper inclined angle with respect to the first imaginary straight line than the second linear magnetization region.

In the magnetic tape, in a case where a maximum value of an absolute value of a difference between a servo band spacing obtained before storage in an environment of a temperature of 32? C. and relative humidity of 55% and a servo band spacing obtained after storage in the environment for a storage time T is set to A, and T is defined as 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours, 96 hours, or 120 hours, a medium life calculated by a linear function of A and a logarithm log.sub.eT of T, that are derived from a value of A and a value of the logarithm log.sub.eT of T obtained for each T is 3 years or longer. The medium life is T in a case where the A satisfies Equation 1: A=1.5?B.

An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a module having an array of first read transducers each having a tunnel valve structure and a second read transducer coupled to the array of first read transducers, the second read transducer having a tunnel valve structure. The apparatus also includes a controller, and a cable coupling the read transducers to the controller, thereby forming a plurality of circuits extending from the controller, each circuit corresponding to one of the transducers. Resistances of the circuits are about the same.

In the magnetic tape, a maximum value of magnetic tape deformation amounts after storage in each of five environments for 1 year is 0.50 ?m or less, a rate of a change of magnetic tape deformation amount with respect to a change in relative humidity obtained from the five magnetic tape deformation amounts is 0.0001 ?m/% to 0.0500 ?m/%, and a rate of a change of the magnetic tape deformation amount with respect to a change in temperature obtained from the five magnetic tape deformation amounts is 0.0010 ?m/? C. to 0.1000 ?m/? C.

A magnetic recording medium is a magnetic recording medium in the form of a tape and includes a substrate, a foundation layer provided on the substrate, and a magnetic layer provided on the foundation layer and containing a magnetic powder. The foundation layer and the magnetic layer each contain a lubricant. A squareness ratio of the magnetic layer in a perpendicular direction is equal to or higher than 65%, an average thickness of the magnetic recording medium is equal to or smaller than 5.6 ?m, a plurality of recessed portions each having a depth corresponding to 20% or higher of the average thickness of the magnetic layer is provided on a surface of the magnetic layer, and the number of the recessed portions per unit area of 1,600 ?m.sup.2 of the surface of the magnetic layer is equal to or greater than 20 and equal to or smaller than 200, and an amount of exudation of the lubricant per unit region of 12.5 ?m?9.3 ?m on the surface of the magnetic layer in a vacuum is equal to or greater than 3.0 ?m.sup.2 and equal to or smaller than 6.5 ?m.sup.2.

In the magnetic tape, in a case where a maximum value of an absolute value of a difference between a servo band spacing obtained before storage in an environment of a temperature of 32? C. and relative humidity of 55% and a servo band spacing obtained after storage in the environment for a storage time T is set to A, and T is defined as 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours, 96 hours, or 120 hours, a medium life calculated by a linear function of A and a logarithm log.sub.e T of T, that are derived from a value of A and a value of the logarithm log.sub.e T of T obtained for each T is 3 years or longer. The medium life is T in a case where the A satisfies Equation 1: A=1.5?B.

A magnetic head includes a first servo reading element pair, a second servo reading element pair, and a plurality of magnetic elements. The first servo reading element pair consists of a first servo reading element and a second servo reading element, the second servo reading element pair consists of a third servo reading element and a fourth servo reading element, the first servo reading element and the third servo reading element are disposed on one end side of the plurality of magnetic elements and read one servo band of the pair of servo bands, and the second servo reading element and the fourth servo reading element are disposed on the other end side of the plurality of magnetic elements and read the other servo band of the pair of servo bands.

Provided is a magnetic tape apparatus. In a case where a maximum value of an absolute value of a difference between a servo band interval obtained before the following storage and a servo band interval obtained after the storage of N cycles, in which a predetermined storage is set as one cycle, is denoted by A, and a medium life is equal to or longer than 5 years, which is calculated by a linear function of A and a logarithm log.sub.eT of T derived from a value of A and a value of the logarithm log.sub.eT of a total storage time T of the storage of the N cycles, each of which is obtained by setting N as 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5. The medium life is T, in a case where A satisfies Expression a: A=1.5?B+C.

The magnetic tape includes: a non-magnetic support; and a magnetic layer containing a ferromagnetic powder, and a magnetic tape cartridge and a magnetic tape apparatus include the magnetic tape. The number of recesses existing on a surface of the magnetic layer and having an equivalent circle diameter of 0.15 ?m or more and 0.25 ?m or less is 100 or more and 2500 or less per an area of 40 ?m?40 ?m. Standard deviation ? of the number of the recesses in a width direction of the surface of the magnetic layer is 100 or less.