Servo mark length matched to write head gap for magnetic storage media

A system comprising:

• a tape drive that moves a magnetic tape;
• and
• a write head configured to generate a magnetic field across a gap width to create a symmetrical servo mark in the magnetic tape, the magnetic field generating:
• a first field pattern region having remanence magnetization substantially perpendicular to and directed toward the magnetic tape at a first end of the symmetrical servo mark;
• a second field pattern region having remanence magnetization substantially perpendicular to and directed away from the magnetic tape at a second end of the symmetrical servo mark;
• and
• a third field pattern region having remanence magnetization substantially parallel with the magnetic tape between the first end and the second end of the symmetrical servo mark;
• wherein the servo mark defines a mark length approximately equal to the gap width of the write head.

A data storage tape comprising:

• a substrate;
• a magnetic layer formed over the substrate and comprising a perpendicular squareness greater than 50 percent and a longitudinal squareness less than 50 percent;
• and
• a symmetrical servo mark recorded in the magnetic layer, wherein the symmetrical servo mark comprises:
• a first field pattern region having remanence magnetization substantially perpendicular to and directed toward the substrate at a first end of the symmetrical servo mark;
• a second field pattern region having remanence magnetization substantially perpendicular to and directed away from the substrate at a second end of the symmetrical servo mark;
• and
• a third field pattern region having remanence magnetization substantially parallel with the substrate between the first end and the second end of the symmetrical servo mark.