A magnetic device including: a magnetic reader; a magnetic writer; and a variable overcoat, the variable overcoat positioned over at least the magnetic reader and writer, the variable overcoat having an overcoat layer, the overcoat layer having a substantially constant thickness and material; and at least one disparate overcoat portion, the disparate overcoat portion having a different thickness, a different material, or both, than the overcoat layer.

A magnetic device including: a magnetic reader; a magnetic writer; and a variable overcoat, the variable overcoat positioned over at least the magnetic reader and writer, the variable overcoat having an overcoat layer, the overcoat layer having a substantially constant thickness and material; and at least one disparate overcoat portion, the disparate overcoat portion having a different thickness, a different material, or both, than the overcoat layer.

According to one embodiment, a heat assisted magnetic recording system includes a magnetic recording medium comprising a magnetic recording layer, where the magnetic recording layer includes a plurality of physical bits. Each physical bit has a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and one of at least three magnetic states, where the at least three magnetic states include a +1 magnetic state, a 0 magnetic state, and a −1 magnetic state.

A magnetic tape device, in which a magnetic tape is caused to run between a winding reel and a cartridge reel in a state where a tension is applied in a longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape and a maximum value of the tension is 0.50 N or more, the magnetic tape after running in a state where the tension is applied is caused to be wound around the cartridge reel by applying a tension of 0.40 N or less in the longitudinal direction, and a number distribution A of equivalent circle diameters of a plurality of bright areas and a number distribution B of equivalent circle diameters of a plurality of dark areas in a binarized image of a secondary electron image obtained by imaging a surface of the magnetic layer of the magnetic tape with a scanning electron microscope satisfy predetermined number distributions, respectively.w

A magnetic recording medium that can exhibit good traveling performance during use is provided. This magnetic recording medium is a tape-shaped magnetic recording medium, and includes a substrate including a polyester as a main component, a base layer disposed on the substrate, a magnetic layer disposed on the base layer, and a back layer disposed on a side of the substrate opposite to the base layer. A surface of the back layer opposite to the substrate has a kurtosis of 2.0 or more. On a surface of the magnetic layer, recesses having a depth of 20% or more of the average thickness of the magnetic layer are formed at a ratio of 10 or more and 200 or less per 1600 μm.sup.2. A surface of the magnetic layer has arithmetic average roughness Ra of 2.5 nm or less. The entire magnetic recording medium has a BET specific surface area of 3.5 m.sup.2/g or more in a state where the lubricant has been removed from the magnetic recording medium and the magnetic recording medium has been dried.

A magnetic recording medium is provided and includes a layer structure including a magnetic layer, a non-magnetic layer, and a base layer in this order, in which an average thickness t.sub.T of the magnetic recording medium is 3.5 μm≤t.sub.T≤5.3 μm, a dimensional variation Δw in a width direction of the magnetic recording medium to tension change in a longitudinal direction of the magnetic recording medium is 700 ppm/N≤Δw≤2000 ppm/N, and an average thickness t.sub.n of the non-magnetic layer is t.sub.n≤1.0 μm.

A magnetic recording medium is provided and includes a layer structure including a magnetic layer, a non-magnetic layer, and a base layer in this order, in which an average thickness t.sub.T of the magnetic recording medium is 3.5 μm≤t.sub.T≤5.3 μm, a dimensional variation Δw in a width direction of the magnetic recording medium to tension change in a longitudinal direction of the magnetic recording medium is 700 ppm/N≤Δw≤2000 ppm/N, and an average thickness t.sub.n of the non-magnetic layer is t.sub.n≤1.0 μm.

A magnetic recording medium is provided and includes a layer structure including a magnetic layer, a non-magnetic layer, and a base layer in order, in which an average thickness t.sub.T of the magnetic recording medium is 4.0 μm≤t.sub.T≤5.3 μm, a dimensional variation Δw in a width direction of the magnetic recording medium to tension change in a longitudinal direction of the magnetic recording medium is 680 ppm/N≤Δw≤2000 ppm/N, and an average thickness t.sub.n of the non-magnetic layer is t.sub.n≤1.0 μm.

A magnetic recording medium is provided and includes a layer structure including a magnetic layer, a non-magnetic layer, and a base layer in order, in which an average thickness t.sub.T of the magnetic recording medium is 4.0 μm≤t.sub.T≤5.3 μm, a dimensional variation Δw in a width direction of the magnetic recording medium to tension change in a longitudinal direction of the magnetic recording medium is 680 ppm/N≤Δw≤2000 ppm/N, and an average thickness t.sub.n of the non-magnetic layer is t.sub.n≤1.0 μm.

A magnetic recording medium that can exhibit good traveling performance during use is provided. This magnetic recording medium is a tape-shaped magnetic recording medium, and includes a substrate including a polyester as a main component, a base layer disposed on the substrate, a magnetic layer disposed on the base layer, and a back layer disposed on a side of the substrate opposite to the base layer. A surface of the back layer opposite to the substrate has a kurtosis of 2.0 or more. On a surface of the magnetic layer, recesses having a depth of 20% or more of the average thickness of the magnetic layer are formed at a ratio of 10 or more and 200 or less per 1600 μm.sup.2. A surface of the magnetic layer has arithmetic average roughness Ra of 2.5 nm or less. The entire magnetic recording medium has a BET specific surface area of 3.5 m.sup.2/g or more in a state where the lubricant has been removed from the magnetic recording medium and the magnetic recording medium has been dried.