Crossfeed problems in read-while-write tape heads

Three-dimensional finite element models have been utilized to simulate the crossfeed problems in read-while-write (RWW) tape heads, and the results have been compared with experimental measurements. The most significant contributors, such as shield structure, intershield spacing, and reproductive mode, have been identified. A new thin-film inductive/dual-magnetoresistive tape head design was found to reduce the crossfeed by about a factor of 30, compared with the conventional shared-pole design, which is the most favored approach for achieving simultaneous operation of the READ head and WRITE head.