An X-field micro-gap head for high density magnetic recording

As the gap in a magnetic recording head is made smaller, a point is reached where the gap cannot supply adequate bias field for undistorted low-frequency response without erasing the high frequencies. In the -field head, a vertical component of magnetization is superposed on the conventional semicircular pattern at the head gap, to give a field which has more rapid decay at the trailing edge and at the same time has a more uniform intensity through the thickness of the tape coating. A new -field design overcomes objections to previous models, and can be produced economically.