Abstract: A voice coil linear actuator includes a bobbin connected to a voice coil, a center pole piece, a main magnet, and an outer pole and housing. An auxiliary magnet is constructed and arranged for attachment to the center pole piece such that the center pole piece is sandwiched between the auxiliary magnet and the main magnet. The main magnet has a first magnetic polarization (e.g., North) adjacent to the center pole piece at a first end of the main magnet. The auxiliary magnet has a second magnetic polarization (e.g., North) adjacent the center pole piece, such that fringing fields from the auxiliary magnet substantially cancel fringing fields from the main magnet. Consequently, substantially all fringing fields from the actuator are substantially contained with the actuator. Fields at the magnetic head in a tape drive unit are less than about five Orsted.