Abstract: The present invention is directed to a thin film magnetic head and its manufacturing method. A slider 1 is provided with base body surfaces 13 and 14 at its surface facing opposite a medium. An inductive thin film magnetic transducer 2 is provided with a first pole tip P1 and a second pole tip P2 whose front ends emerge at the base body surfaces 13 and 14 and indented portions 4 and 5 provided at the base body surfaces 13 and 14. A protective film 10 covers the base body surfaces 13 and 14 and indented portions 4 and 5. The thickness of the protective film 10 at the indented portions 4 and 5 is larger than the thickness at the base body surfaces 13 and 14. The magnetic films constituting the pole tips P1 and P2 can thus be reliably protected from oxidation, corrosion and the like, while minimizing the spacing loss.

Abstract: A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus having a magnetic disk, a magnetic head and a magnetic head supporting device. The surface roughness R.sub.max of the magnetic disk is at most 10 nm, and the magnetic head has a slider on which reading and writing elements are mounted. The slider is of a generally rectangular prism shape with the entire area of a medium opposing surface which opposes the magnetic disk being flat. The surface area of the medium opposing surface is 2 mm.sup.2 or less. The apparatus has a first relative speed at which the frictional coefficient between the magnetic disk and the magnetic head is changed from a high value to a low value when the speed increases, and a second relative speed at which the frictional coefficient is changed from a low value to a high value when the speed decreases.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic head consisting of a slider, and a read/write element attached to an end surface of the slider. The element is disposed between the top and bottom surfaces of the slider, on a longitudinal end surface of the slider. The top surface of the thin film magnetic head has an uppermost portion which is flat and narrower than the bottom surface.

Abstract: A magnetic recording disk comprising a rigid substrate and a magnetic layer of the continuous thin film type is durable and exhibits good electromagnetic properties when the magnetic layer predominantly composed of .gamma.-Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 has specific peak area ratios in an X-ray diffraction chart thereof. Inclusion of .alpha.-Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 in the magnetic layer is also effective. Reliable recording/reproduction can be conducted on the magnetic recording disk using a flying magnetic head.

Abstract: A magnetic recording disk comprising a rigid substrate and a magnetic layer of the continuous thin film type is durable and exhibits good electromagnetic properties and frequency response when the magnetic layer is predominantly composed of .gamma.-Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 and has a resistivity of 0.03 to 3 .OMEGA.-cm. Reliable recording/reproduction can be conducted on the magnetic recording disk using a flying magnetic head.