Magnetic tape recording technology and devices

Magnetic tape recording for data storage is reviewed with respect to the rapidly advancing areal density of recorded data on tape. The key to these advances lies primarily in the ability of heads and media to support this growth, coupled with a move to active track following servo control and advanced recording channels. Multi-element magnetic head devices in the form of arrays of thin film record (write) heads using high moment soft magnetic materials and multilayer magnetoresistive (MR) readback devices are emphasized.