The magnetic tape includes a non-magnetic support; and a magnetic layer including ferromagnetic powder and a binding agent on the non-magnetic support, in which the magnetic layer has a servo pattern, and an absolute value N of a difference between a refractive index Nxy measured regarding an in-plane direction of the magnetic layer and a refractive index Nz measured regarding a thickness direction of the magnetic layer is 0.25 to 0.40, a magnetic tape cartridge and a magnetic tape apparatus including this magnetic tape.

The magnetic tape includes a non-magnetic support; and a magnetic layer including ferromagnetic powder and a binding agent on the non-magnetic support, in which the magnetic layer has a servo pattern, and an absolute value N of a difference between a refractive index Nxy measured regarding an in-plane direction of the magnetic layer and a refractive index Nz measured regarding a thickness direction of the magnetic layer is 0.25 to 0.40, a magnetic tape cartridge and a magnetic tape apparatus including this magnetic tape.

The magnetic tape includes a non-magnetic support; and a magnetic layer including ferromagnetic powder and a binding agent on the non-magnetic support, in which the magnetic layer has a servo pattern, and an absolute value N of a difference between a refractive index Nxy measured regarding an in-plane direction of the magnetic layer and a refractive index Nz measured regarding a thickness direction of the magnetic layer is 0.25 to 0.40, a magnetic tape cartridge and a magnetic tape apparatus including this magnetic tape.

The magnetic tape includes a non-magnetic support; and a magnetic layer including ferromagnetic powder and a binding agent on the non-magnetic support, in which the magnetic layer has a servo pattern, and an absolute value N of a difference between a refractive index Nxy measured regarding an in-plane direction of the magnetic layer and a refractive index Nz measured regarding a thickness direction of the magnetic layer is 0.25 to 0.40, a magnetic tape cartridge and a magnetic tape apparatus including this magnetic tape.

The magnetic tape includes a non-magnetic support; and a magnetic layer including ferromagnetic powder and a binding agent on the non-magnetic support, in which an absolute value N of a difference between a refractive index Nxy measured regarding an in-plane direction of the magnetic layer and a refractive index Nz measured regarding a thickness direction of the magnetic layer is 0.25 to 0.40, and a coefficient of friction measured regarding a base portion of a surface of the magnetic layer is equal to or smaller than 0.30, a magnetic tape cartridge and a magnetic tape apparatus including this magnetic tape.

Provided is a magnetic recording medium that allows for superior operational reliability while addressing still higher capacity. The magnetic recording medium includes a magnetic recording tape extending in a longitudinal direction, and a leader tape coupled thereto in the longitudinal direction. Further, a maximum step difference of a stepped part positioned closest to a coupling part between the leader tape and the magnetic recording tape, among a plurality of the stepped parts generated on the leader tape after traveling in accordance with the following conditions 1 to 3, is 34 m or less in a thickness direction of the leader tape. Condition 1 is being in an environment of a temperature of 23 C. and a relative humidity of 45% RH, condition 2 is using a drive pursuant to a standard of LTO 9, and condition 3 is performing reciprocating traveling 140 times to record and reproduce a capacity of 18 terabytes.

A method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium includes burnishing, with an abrasive material, a surface of a stack including a magnetic recording layer and a protective layer stacked on a substrate in order of the magnetic recording layer and the protective layer. The burnishing of the surface of the stack includes using a long abrasive tape including abrasive grains as the abrasive material fixed onto a support in a state of being wound in roll form, and pressing the abrasive tape, supplied from the state of being wound in the roll form, against the surface of the stack so as to rub the surface of the stack. The abrasive tape in the state of being wound in the roll form is subjected to vacuum treatment in advance such that loose abrasive grains are reduced.

A method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium includes burnishing, with an abrasive material, a surface of a stack including a magnetic recording layer and a protective layer stacked on a substrate in order of the magnetic recording layer and the protective layer. The burnishing of the surface of the stack includes using a long abrasive tape including abrasive grains as the abrasive material fixed onto a support in a state of being wound in roll form, and pressing the abrasive tape, supplied from the state of being wound in the roll form, against the surface of the stack so as to rub the surface of the stack. The abrasive tape in the state of being wound in the roll form is subjected to vacuum treatment in advance such that loose abrasive grains are reduced.