Abstract: An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes a substrate and a closure above the substrate. A gap is positioned between the closure and the substrate, the gap having an array of magnetic transducers extending therealong and unpatterned films. The gap further includes a first layer of a first material having a bulk modulus of elasticity lower than the unpatterned films in the gap. An apparatus according to another embodiment includes a plurality of magnetic transducers arranged in a linear array, and a layer of an expansion material between each adjacent pair of magnetic transducers in the array. An encapsulant is positioned between each layer of the expansion material and the adjacent magnetic transducers. The expansion material has a greater coefficient of thermal expansion than the encapsulant.

Abstract: An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes: an array of write transducers. Each of the write transducers include: a first write pole having a pole tip extending from a media facing side of the first write pole, and a second write pole having a pole tip extending from a media facing side of the second write pole. Each of the write transducers also include a nonmagnetic write gap between the pole tips of the write poles, and a first high moment layer between the write gap and the pole tip of the second write pole. The first high moment layer further includes a higher magnetic moment than a magnetic moment of the pole tip of the second write pole. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in additional embodiments.

Abstract: An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes a first circuit electrically coupled to a first read transducer and a first parallel circuit, the first read transducer having a tunnel valve structure having a resistance. A second circuit is electrically coupled to a second read transducer having a tunnel valve structure. An area of a tunnel barrier portion of the second read transducer along a plane of deposition thereof is larger than an area of a tunnel barrier portion of the first read transducer along a plane of deposition thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes a substrate and a closure above the substrate. A gap is positioned between the closure and the substrate, the gap having an array of magnetic transducers extending therealong and unpatterned films. The gap further includes a first layer of a first material having a bulk modulus of elasticity lower than the unpatterned films in the gap. An apparatus according to another embodiment includes a plurality of magnetic transducers arranged in a linear array, and a layer of an expansion material between each adjacent pair of magnetic transducers in the array. An encapsulant is positioned between each layer of the expansion material and the adjacent magnetic transducers. The expansion material has a greater coefficient of thermal expansion than the encapsulant.

Abstract: An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes: a plurality of tunnel valve read transducers arranged in an array extending along a read module. Each of the tunnel valve read transducers includes: a sensor structure having a cap layer, a free layer, a tunnel barrier layer, a reference layer and an antiferromagnetic layer, and electrically insulating layers on opposite sides of the sensor structure. Moreover, a height of the free layer measured in a direction perpendicular to a media bearing surface of the read module is less than a width of the free layer measured in a cross-track direction perpendicular to an intended direction of media travel.

Abstract: An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes: an array of write transducers. Each of the write transducer include: a first write pole having a pole tip extending from a media facing side of the first write pole, and a second write pole having a pole tip extending from a media facing side of the second write pole. Each of the write transducers also include a nonmagnetic write gap between the pole tips of the write poles, a first high moment layer between the write gap and the pole tip of the second write pole, and a second high moment layer between the write gap and the pole tip of the first write pole. The first and second high moment layers each have a higher magnetic moment than magnetic moments of the pole tips of the second and first write poles, respectively.

Abstract: An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes a first circuit electrically coupled to a first read transducer and a first parallel circuit, the first read transducer having a tunnel valve structure having a resistance. A second circuit is electrically coupled to a second read transducer having a tunnel valve structure. An area of a tunnel barrier portion of the second read transducer along a plane of deposition thereof is larger than an area of a tunnel barrier portion of the first read transducer along a plane of deposition thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes a first circuit comprising a pair of terminals coupled to a first read transducer having a tunnel valve structure and a first parallel circuit. A second circuit has a pair of terminals that are coupled to a second read transducer having a tunnel valve structure. An area of a tunnel barrier portion of the second read transducer is larger than an area of a tunnel barrier portion of the first read transducer. The terminal resistance of the first circuit is less than about five times a terminal resistance of the second circuit.

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, an electrical lead layer between the sensor and one of the shields, and a spacer layer between the electrical lead layer and the one of the shields. The upper and lower shields provide magnetic shielding. The electrical lead layer is in electrical communication with the sensor. A conductivity of the electrical lead layer is higher than a conductivity of the spacer layer. A width of the electrical lead layer in a cross-track direction is greater than the width of a free layer of the sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a first read transducer having a tunnel valve structure, and a second read transducer coupled to the first read transducer. The second read transducer has a tunnel valve structure as well, but the tunnel valve structure of the first read transducer has a different resistivity than the tunnel valve structure of the second read transducer. An apparatus according to another embodiment includes an array of first read transducers, each first read transducer having a tunnel valve structure. At least a second read transducer is coupled to the first read transducers, the second read transducer having a tunnel valve structure. The tunnel valve structure of the first read transducer has a different resistivity than the tunnel valve structure of the second read transducer.

Abstract: An apparatus according to one embodiment includes an array of magnetic transducers each having: a current-perpendicular-to-plane sensor, and a stabilizing layered structure adjacent the sensor. The stabilizing layered structure includes a first ferromagnetic layer, a second ferromagnetic layer, and an antiparallel coupling layer between the ferromagnetic layers. Each transducer also includes an electrical lead layer positioned between the sensor and the stabilizing layered structure. The electrical lead layer is in electrical communication with the sensor. Each transducer also includes a spacer layer between the respective electrical lead layer and the stabilizing layered structure. A conductivity of the electrical lead layer is higher than a conductivity of the spacer layer.

Abstract: An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes: an array of write transducers. Each of the write transducers include: a first write pole having a pole tip extending from a media facing side of the first write pole, and a second write pole having a pole tip extending from a media facing side of the second write pole. Each of the write transducers also include a nonmagnetic write gap between the pole tips of the write poles, and a first high moment layer between the write gap and the pole tip of the second write pole. The first high moment layer further includes a higher magnetic moment than a magnetic moment of the pole tip of the second write pole. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in additional embodiments.

Abstract: An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes: an array of write transducers. Each of the write transducer include: a first write pole having a pole tip extending from a media facing side of the first write pole, and a second write pole having a pole tip extending from a media facing side of the second write pole. Each of the write transducers also include a nonmagnetic write gap between the pole tips of the write poles, a first high moment layer between the write gap and the pole tip of the second write pole, and a second high moment layer between the write gap and the pole tip of the first write pole. The first and second high moment layers each have a higher magnetic moment than magnetic moments of the pole tips of the second and first write poles, respectively.

Abstract: An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a module having an array of first read transducers each having a tunnel valve structure and a second read transducer coupled to the array of first read transducers, the second read transducer having a tunnel valve structure. The apparatus also includes a controller, and a cable coupling the read transducers to the controller, thereby forming a plurality of circuits extending from the controller, each circuit corresponding to one of the transducers. Resistances of the circuits are about the same.

Abstract: An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes: an array of write transducers, each write transducer having: a first write pole having a pole tip extending from a media facing side of the first write pole, a second write pole having a pole tip extending from a media facing side of the second write pole, a nonmagnetic write gap between the pole tips of the write poles, and a high moment layer between the write gap and the pole tip of the second write pole, the high moment layer having a higher magnetic moment than a magnetic moment of the pole tip of the second write pole. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in additional embodiments.

Abstract: A magnetic recording tape writing apparatus includes an array of write transducers extending along a common tape bearing surface. Each of the write transducers has a lower pole having a lower pole tip, a lower coil layer above the lower pole, an intermediate coil layer above the lower coil layer, and an upper coil layer above the intermediate coil layer. An upper pole is positioned above the upper coil layer, the upper pole having an upper pole tip. In one embodiment, a nonmagnetic write gap is positioned between the pole tips, a plane of deposition of the write gap extending between the intermediate coil layer and the lower coil layer. In another embodiment, a nonmagnetic write gap is positioned between the pole tips, a plane of deposition of the write gap extending between the intermediate coil layer and the upper coil layer.

Abstract: An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes a first circuit comprising a pair of terminals coupled to a first read transducer having a tunnel valve structure and a first parallel circuit. A second circuit has a pair of terminals that are coupled to a second read transducer having a tunnel valve structure. An area of a tunnel barrier portion of the second read transducer is larger than an area of a tunnel barrier portion of the first read transducer. The terminal resistance of the first circuit is less than about five times a terminal resistance of the second circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus according to one embodiment includes an array of transducer structures arranged along a tape bearing surface of a common module. Each transducer structure includes a lower shield, an upper shield above the lower shield, a current-perpendicular-to-plane sensor between the upper and lower shields, at least one lead, and an insulating layer between the at least one lead and the shield closest thereto. The 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 magnetic recording tape writing apparatus includes an array of write transducers extending along a common tape bearing surface. Each of the write transducers has a lower pole having a lower pole tip, a lower coil layer above the lower pole, an intermediate coil layer above the lower coil layer, and an upper coil layer above the intermediate coil layer. An upper pole is positioned above the upper coil layer, the upper pole having an upper pole tip. In one embodiment, a nonmagnetic write gap is positioned between the pole tips, a plane of deposition of the write gap extending between the intermediate coil layer and the lower coil layer. In another embodiment, a nonmagnetic write gap is positioned between the pole tips, a plane of deposition of the write gap extending between the intermediate coil layer and the upper coil layer.

Abstract: An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes: an array of write transducers, each write transducer having: a first write pole having a pole tip extending from a media facing side of the first write pole, a second write pole having a pole tip extending from a media facing side of the second write pole, a nonmagnetic write gap between the pole tips of the write poles, and a high moment layer between the write gap and the pole tip of the second write pole, the high moment layer having a higher magnetic moment than a magnetic moment of the pole tip of the second write pole. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in additional embodiments.