Abstract: An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a block having multiple skiving edges along a tape bearing surface thereof, and a guide mechanism configured to set a wrap angle of a tape approaching the skiving edge. A drive mechanism is configured to cause the tape to move over the block. The block has no transducer coupled directly thereto. A computer-implemented method according to one embodiment includes causing a magnetic recording tape to pass over a block having a skiving edge at a wrap angle of at least one degree for burnishing the tape, wherein the block has an average hardness of at least about 9 Mohs.

Abstract: An apparatus according to one embodiment includes an array of magnetic read transducers each having a current-perpendicular-to-plane sensor, magnetic shields on opposite sides of the sensor in an intended direction of media travel thereacross, and a stabilizing layered structure between at least one of the magnetic shields and the sensor. The stabilizing layered structure has an antiferromagnetic layer, a first ferromagnetic layer adjacent the antiferromagnetic layer, and a second ferromagnetic layer. The antiferromagnetic layer pins a magnetization direction in the first ferromagnetic layer along an antiferromagnetic polarized direction of the antiferromagnetic layer. An antiparallel coupling layer is positioned between the ferromagnetic layers such that a magnetization direction in the second ferromagnetic layer is opposite the magnetization direction in the first ferromagnetic layer.

Abstract: An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a transducer structure having: a lower shield, an upper shield above the lower shield, a current-perpendicular-to-plane sensor between the upper and lower shields, and an insulating layer between the at least one lead and the shield closest thereto. At least one lead is selected from a group including: an upper electrical lead between the sensor and the upper shield and a lower electrical lead between the sensor and the lower shield. The at least one lead is in electrical communication with the sensor. A width of one or more of the at least one lead in a cross track direction is about equal to a width of the sensor.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment includes coupling closures to a section having a plurality of rows of transducers formed on a substrate, the closures being coupled to the section on an opposite side of the transducers as the substrate. The section is coupled to a lapping-resistant guide, where the closures protrude beyond a lap-stop end of the guide. The closures are lapped for shortening the closures in a direction toward the transducers, wherein the lapping is terminated after the guide contacts a lapping surface. A method according to another embodiment includes coupling closures to a section having a plurality of rows of transducers formed on a substrate. The closures are lapped for shortening the closures in a direction toward the transducers. An extent of the lapping is determined using an optical and/or a contact technique.

Abstract: A chromium oxide film is formed at room temperature. The chromium oxide film has at least one partially polycrystalline portion and/or at least one amorphous portion depending upon the substrate(s) over which the chromium oxide film is formed. Partially polycrystalline portion(s) of the chromium oxide film are exposed, at room temperature, to an electron beam that has an accelerating voltage of at least 100 kilovolts to further crystallize the partially polycrystalline portion(s). Amorphous portion(s) of the chromium oxide film are exposed, at room temperature, to an electron beam that has an accelerating voltage of more than 100 kilovolts to crystallize the amorphous portion(s).

Abstract: An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a magnetic sensor structure, a magnetic shield having at least one laminate pair comprising a magnetic layer and an electrically nonconductive nonmagnetic layer, and a nonmagnetic spacer layer between the sensor structure and the magnetic shield. In one embodiment, a deposition thickness of the nonconductive nonmagnetic layer in each laminate pair is about 10% or less of a total deposition thickness of the laminate pair. In another embodiment, a deposition thickness of the nonconductive nonmagnetic layer in each laminate pair is between about 1 and about 12 nanometers. In yet another embodiment, the magnetic shield has at least one second laminate pair, and a nonlaminated magnetic portion sandwiched between the at least one laminate pair and the at least one second laminate pair.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an alumina-based layer structure having transition regions between layers is disclosed. The method may include ion milling a stainless steel structure surface to partially reduce a metal oxide layer from, and create an exposed portion of, the surface. The method may include oxidizing the exposed portion of the surface to form a crystallized metal oxide bonding layer, growing a crystallized alumina layer onto the metal oxide bonding layer, and diffusing metal from the surface into the crystallized alumina layer, to form a graded aluminate spinel layer. The method may include forming a first transition region from the graded aluminate spinel layer to a crystalline alumina layer, growing the crystalline alumina layer from the first transition region, forming a second transition region from the crystalline alumina layer to an amorphous alumina layer, and growing the amorphous alumina layer from the second transition region.

Abstract: A computer program product for orienting a head includes a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith. The program instructions are readable and/or executable by a controller to cause the controller to: determine a desired pitch for transducers for reading and/or writing to a magnetic tape; and cause a mechanism to orient a head to achieve the desired pitch. The array of a first of the modules is offset from the array of a second of the modules in a first direction parallel to the axis of the array of the second module such that the transducers of the first module are about aligned with the transducers of the second module in the intended direction of tape travel thereacross when the axes are oriented at an angle greater than 0.2° relative to a line oriented perpendicular to the intended direction of tape travel.

Abstract: In one general embodiment, an apparatus includes an array of magnetic transducers each having: a current-perpendicular-to-plane sensor, shields for providing magnetic shielding, and a stabilizing layered structure between at least one of the shields and the sensor. The stabilizing layered structure includes an antiferromagnetic layer, a first ferromagnetic layer adjacent the antiferromagnetic layer, a second ferromagnetic layer, and an antiparallel coupling layer between the ferromagnetic layers. A magnetization direction in the second ferromagnetic layer is opposite the magnetization direction in the first ferromagnetic layer. Each transducer also includes an electrical lead layer positioned between the sensor and the stabilizing layered structure and in electrical communication with the sensor. Each transducer also includes a spacer layer between the respective electrical lead layer and the stabilizing layered structure.

Abstract: In one general embodiment, an apparatus includes a magnetic tunnel junction device having a reference layer, a free layer, and a tunnel barrier layer between the free and reference layers. The tunnel barrier layer is primarily crystalline alumina. In another general embodiment, a method includes forming a first magnetic layer, forming a tunnel barrier layer above the first magnetic layer, and forming a second magnetic layer above the tunnel barrier layer. The tunnel barrier layer includes crystalline alumina. The tunnel barrier layer is formed at a temperature of less than 100 degrees centigrade.

Abstract: An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a sensor having an active region, a magnetic shield adjacent the active region, and a spacer between the active region and the magnetic shield. The spacer includes an electrically conductive ceramic layer. An apparatus according to another embodiment includes a sensor having an active tunnel magnetoresistive region, a magnetic shield adjacent the tunnel magnetoresistive region, and a spacer between the tunnel magnetoresistive region and the magnetic shields. The spacer includes an electrically conductive ceramic layer.

Abstract: A computer program product for orienting a head, according to one embodiment, includes a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith that are readable/executable by a controller to cause the controller to determine a desired pitch for transducers of a magnetic head for reading and/or writing to a magnetic tape, and are readable/executable by the controller to cause the controller to cause a mechanism to orient the magnetic head towards first and second positions to achieve the desired pitch when the tape travels in first and second directions, respectively. Outer data transducers of the third array are about aligned with outer data transducers of the second array when the magnetic head is positioned towards the first position, and the outer data transducers of the third array are about aligned with outer data transducers of the first array when the magnetic head is positioned towards the second position.

Abstract: An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a transducer structure having: a lower shield having recesses in an upper surface thereof; an upper shield formed above the lower shield; a sensor between the upper and lower shields, the recesses being positioned on opposite sides of the sensor; and a first insulating layer in the recesses in the upper surface of the lower shield. An upper surface of the first insulating layer is coplanar with an uppermost portion of the upper surface of the lower shield. An apparatus according to another embodiment includes a transducer structure having: a lower shield having recesses in an upper surface thereof; an upper shield formed above the lower shield, the upper shield having recesses in a lower surface thereof; a sensor between the shields, the recesses being positioned on opposite sides of the sensor; and insulating layers in the recesses in the shields.

Abstract: A drive-implemented method according to one embodiment includes determining an extent of tape dimensional instability, and adjusting a tilt angle of a first array of transducers based on the determined extent. A readback operation is performed using the array oriented at the tile angle. During the readback operation, a longitudinal axis of the first arrays is not parallel to the longitudinal axis of a second array of transducers coupled thereto.

Abstract: In one general embodiment, an apparatus includes a magnetic head. The magnetic head has a first portion and a second portion, the first portion and the second portion together providing a tape bearing surface. The first portion has two pieces flanking the second portion in an intended direction of tape travel thereacross. The second portion has at least one array of transducers. A longitudinal axis of each of the at least one array is defined between opposite ends thereof. The longitudinal axis of each of the at least one array of transducers is oriented at an angle relative to the line oriented orthogonally to the intended direction of tape travel thereacross, the angle being between 0.2° and about 10°.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment includes, in a first lapping step, lapping an end of a section of a thin film wafer for polishing the end of the section, the section having a plurality of rows of transducers formed on a substrate. A bearing surface slot is formed in the polished end at a location that defines a tape bearing surface extending between the bearing surface slot and portions of the transducers exposed on the polished end. A second lapping step is performed on the polished end for reducing a height of the polished end. After the first and second lapping steps, a row is sliced from the section, the row having the polished end and bearing surface slot.

Abstract: In one general embodiment, an apparatus includes a current perpendicular to plane magnetic read transducer having a sensor and only a single magnetic shield. In another general embodiment, an apparatus includes a magnetic read transducer having a sensor, a first magnetic shield, and a second magnetic shield. A portion of the second magnetic shield aligned with the sensor in an intended direction of tape travel thereacross has a thickness along the intended direction that is about 50% or less than a thickness of a portion of the first magnetic shield aligned in the intended direction with the portion of the second magnetic shield.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment includes lapping an end of a section of a thin film wafer for polishing the end of the section, the section having a plurality of rows of transducers formed on a substrate. A bearing surface slot is formed in the polished end at a location that defines a tape bearing surface extending between the bearing surface slot and portions of the transducers exposed on the polished end. A row is sliced from the section, the row having the polished end and bearing surface slot.

Abstract: A module according to one embodiment includes a body having a tape bearing surface, and a coating on the tape bearing surface. The module is nonfunctional for reading and writing.

Abstract: In one general embodiment, an apparatus includes a magnetic tunnel junction device having a reference layer, a free layer, and a tunnel barrier layer between the free and reference layers. The tunnel barrier layer is primarily crystalline alumina. In another general embodiment, a method includes forming a first magnetic layer, forming a tunnel barrier layer above the first magnetic layer, and forming a second magnetic layer above the tunnel barrier layer. The tunnel barrier layer includes crystalline alumina. The tunnel barrier layer is formed at a temperature of less than 100 degrees centigrade.