The wavelength dependences of loss and phase, as functions of write-head-to-medium separation, are calculated for an AC-biased recording model which assumes a longitudinal magnetization that increases linearly with depth. For a penetration distance y
mand a write separation

, the read-voltage loss is

, as compared with the usual thickness loss

. The phase function is found by calculating the mean longitudinal position at which recording occurs vs. depth, weighted by the exponential read-distance loss. The resulting integrals cannot be solved in closed form, but series approximations allow numerical evaluation. Calculated loss and phase curves are shown for various relative separations.