Spacing losses in finite track width reproducing systems

The Fourier transforms of the three field components of a finite width reproducing head are derived and given in analytic forms. These formulas represent three-dimensional analogs of the familiar two-dimensional exponential spacing loss factor. The on- and off-track head response to a longitudinally magnetized track is computed from these results and compared with experimental measurements on registration loss and read crosstalk. As long as the head-to-medium separation and medium thickness are small compared to the head width, the results are in relatively simple analytic forms.