Abstract: A thin film inductor having yokes, one or more of which is laminated, and one or more conductors passing between the yokes. The laminated yoke or yokes help reduce eddy currents and/or hysteresis losses. Magnetic layers of the laminated yoke have varying thickness, with the thickness of magnetic layers closer to the winding (that is, in areas of higher density magnetic flux) having relatively lower thickness(es) in order to further reduce eddy currents and related energy losses.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes a main pole, a write shield, a return path section, a heater that generates heat for making part of a medium facing surface protrude, and a sensor that detects contact of the part of the medium facing surface with a recording medium. The return path section includes: a yoke layer located backward of the main pole along the direction of travel of the recording medium; a first coupling part coupling the yoke layer and the write shield to each other; and a second coupling part located away from the medium facing surface and coupling the yoke layer and the main pole to each other. The first coupling part has an end face facing toward the yoke layer. This end face includes a middle portion spaced from the yoke layer and facing the yoke layer, and two side portions located on opposite sides of the middle portion in a track width direction and in contact with the yoke layer. The sensor is located between the middle portion and the yoke layer.

Abstract: A magnetic head having a tape bearing surface according to one embodiment includes a plurality of writers, each writer having first and second poles each having a pole tip positioned towards the tape bearing surface, a front gap defined between the pole tips, and a back gap defined along an electrical coupling of the poles at portions thereof positioned away from the tape bearing surface; wherein widths of the front and back gaps are defined in a direction parallel to the tape bearing surface and parallel to planes of deposition thereof, wherein a ratio of the width of the back gap to the width of the front gap is less than about 3:1. Various embodiments of a magnetic recording tape are also disclosed.