Abstract: A light source unit has a substrate, a light source that is mounted to the substrate. The light source includes; a first emission part that emits a forward light, the forward light being a laser light in an oscillation state; a second emission part that is located on a side opposite to the first emission part and that emits a rearward light, the rearward light being a laser light in an oscillation state; and a light leakage part located at a position different from the first emission part and the second emission part. The light source further includes a photodetector that is provided on the substrate, wherein the photodetector has a light receiving surface for detecting a leakage light that leaks from the light leakage part.

Abstract: A return path section includes first and second yoke portions and first, second and third columnar portions. The first and second yoke portions and the first columnar portion are located on the front side in the direction of travel of a recording medium relative to a waveguide core. The second and third columnar portions are located on opposite sides of a plasmon generator and connected to a shield. The first yoke portion connects a main pole to the first columnar portion. The second yoke portion connects the first columnar portion to the second and third columnar portions. A coil is wound around the first columnar portion. A heater and an expansion layer are located on the rear side in the direction of travel of the recording medium relative to the core.

Abstract: A plasmon generator includes a first portion and a second portion that are adjacent in a first direction orthogonal to the direction of travel of light propagating through a core. The second portion includes a front end face located in a medium facing surface of a magnetic head. The core has a concave portion recessed from the top surface of the core. At least part of the first portion is received in the concave portion. The concave portion has a surface including an evanescent light generating portion. The first portion includes a plasmon exciting portion opposed to the evanescent light generating portion. The evanescent light generating portion is inclined relative to a first surface.

Abstract: A plasmon generator includes a first portion and a second portion. A core of a waveguide includes a main body portion and a protruding portion. The main body portion has a first surface and a second surface parallel to each other. The protruding portion lies on the first surface. A cladding of the waveguide includes a receiving-portion-forming layer lying on the first surface. At least part of the first portion of the plasmon generator is received in a receiving portion defined by the protruding portion and the receiving-portion-forming layer.

Abstract: A thermal assisted magnetic recording head of the present invention has an air bearing surface (ABS) opposite to a magnetic recording medium, a core that can propagate laser light as propagating light, a plasmon generator that includes a generator front end surface facing the ABS, and a main pole that faces the ABS and emits magnetic flux to the magnetic recording medium. The plasmon generator is opposite to a part of the core and extends to the generator front surface, is coupled with a portion of the propagating light that propagates through the core in the surface plasmon mode to generate a surface plasmon, propagates the surface plasmon to the generator front end surface, and generates near-field light (NF light) at the generator front end surface to irradiate the NF light to the magnetic recording medium.

Abstract: A thermal assisted magnetic recording head of the present invention has an air bearing surface (ABS) opposite to a magnetic recording medium, a core that can propagate laser light as propagating light, a plasmon generator that includes a generator front end surface facing the ABS, and a main pole that faces the ABS and emits magnetic flux to the magnetic recording medium. The plasmon generator is opposite to a part of the core and extends to the generator front surface, is coupled with a portion of the propagating light that propagates through the core in the surface plasmon mode to generate a surface plasmon, propagates the surface plasmon to the generator front end surface, and generates near-field light (NF light) at the generator front end surface to irradiate the NF light to the magnetic recording medium.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a thermally-assisted magnetic head includes providing a light source unit including a laser diode; providing a reflection board, and a photo detector; driving the laser diode to emit a light beam towards the reflection board; performing an alignment between the light source unit and the thermally-assisted magnetic recording head section, based on a reflected light of the light beam reflected by the reflection board, then passed through the optical waveguide and finally detected by the photo detector obtaining the maximum power in a LED emission state of the laser diode; and bonding the light source unit to the slider after the alignment is completed. It improves alignment accuracy between a light source unit and a slider during a bonding process therebetween, prevents a laser diode of the light source unit instability, and improves performance of the thermally-assisted magnetic head finally.

Abstract: A return path section includes first and second yoke portions and first, second and third columnar portions. The first and second yoke portions and the first columnar portion are located on the front side in the direction of travel of a recording medium relative to a waveguide core. The second and third columnar portions are located on opposite sides of a plasmon generator and connected to a shield. The first yoke portion connects a main pole to the first columnar portion. The second yoke portion connects the first columnar portion to the second and third columnar portions. A coil is wound around the first columnar portion. A heater and an expansion layer are located on the rear side in the direction of travel of the recording medium relative to the core.

Abstract: A plasmon generator includes a first portion and a second portion. A core of a waveguide includes a main body portion and a protruding portion. The main body portion has a first surface and a second surface parallel to each other. The protruding portion lies on the first surface. A cladding of the waveguide includes a receiving-portion-forming layer lying on the first surface. At least part of the first portion of the plasmon generator is received in a receiving portion defined by the protruding portion and the receiving-portion-forming layer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a thermally-assisted magnetic head includes providing a light source unit including a laser diode; providing a reflection board, and a photo detector; driving the laser diode to emit a light beam towards the reflection board; performing an alignment between the light source unit and the thermally-assisted magnetic recording head section, based on a reflected light of the light beam reflected by the reflection board, then passed through the optical waveguide and finally detected by the photo detector obtaining the maximum power in a LED emission state of the laser diode; and bonding the light source unit to the slider after the alignment is completed. It improves alignment accuracy between a light source unit and a slider during a bonding process therebetween, prevents a laser diode of the light source unit instability, and improves performance of the thermally-assisted magnetic head finally.

Abstract: A plasmon generator includes a first portion and a second portion that are adjacent in a first direction orthogonal to the direction of travel of light propagating through a core. The second portion includes a front end face located in a medium facing surface of a magnetic head. The core has a concave portion recessed from the top surface of the core. At least part of the first portion is received in the concave portion. The concave portion has a surface including an evanescent light generating portion. The first portion includes a plasmon exciting portion opposed to the evanescent light generating portion. The evanescent light generating portion is inclined relative to a first surface.

Abstract: A return path section includes first and second yoke portions and first, second and third columnar portions. The first and second yoke portions and the first columnar portion are located on the same side in the direction of travel of the recording medium relative to a wave guide core. The second and third columnar portions are located on opposite sides of a plasmon generator and connected to a shield. The first yoke portion connects a main pole to the first columnar portion. The second yoke portion connects the first columnar portion to the second and third columnar portions. A coil is wound around the first columnar portion.

Abstract: A thermally assisted magnetic head includes a main magnetic pole layer, a near-field light generating layer having a generating end part generating near-field light arranged within a medium-opposing surface, and an optical waveguide guiding light to the near-field light generating layer. The near-field light generating layer has a laminated structure in which a first thin-film metal layer formed in a thin film form along a direction intersecting the medium-opposing surface and a second thin-film metal layer formed in a thin film form and formed using a second metal larger in hardness than a first metal forming the first thin-film metal layer are alternately laminated. Further, in the second thin-film metal layer, a defect part is formed, the defect part is a part smaller in thickness than another part or is a hole part, and a flat layer part other than the defect part surrounds the defect part.

Abstract: A thermally assisted magnetic head includes a main magnetic pole layer, a near-field light generating layer having a generating end part generating near-field light arranged within a medium-opposing surface, and an optical waveguide guiding light to the near-field light generating layer. The near-field light generating layer has a laminated structure in which a first thin-film metal layer formed in a thin film form along a direction intersecting the medium-opposing surface and a second thin-film metal layer formed in a thin film form and formed using a second metal larger in hardness than a first metal forming the first thin-film metal layer are alternately laminated. Further, in the second thin-film metal layer, a defect part is formed, the defect part is a part smaller in thickness than another part or is a hole part, and a flat layer part other than the defect part surrounds the defect part.

Abstract: A return path section includes first and second yoke portions and first, second and third columnar portions. The first and second yoke portions and the first columnar portion are located on the same side in the direction of travel of the recording medium relative to a wave guide core. The second and third columnar portions are located on opposite sides of a plasmon generator and connected to a shield. The first yoke portion connects a main pole to the first columnar portion. The second yoke portion connects the first columnar portion to the second and third columnar portions. A coil is wound around the first columnar portion.

Abstract: In a manufacturing method for layered chip packages, a layered substructure with at least one additional package joined thereto is used to produce a plurality of layered chip packages. The layered substructure includes a plurality of main bodies to be separated from each other later. Each main body includes: a main part having top and bottom surfaces and including a plurality of layer portions stacked on each other; and a plurality of main terminals disposed on at least one of the top and bottom surfaces of the main part. The additional package includes an additional semiconductor chip and at least one additional terminal that is electrically connected to the additional semiconductor chip and in contact with at least one of the plurality of main terminals.

Abstract: A head stack assembly includes a mounting base, a plurality of drive arms connected with the mounting base, and multiple pairs of head gimbal assemblies connected with the drive arms. Each head gimbal assembly includes a thermal assisted magnetic head, the thermal assisted magnetic head has an air bearing surface, a bottom surface opposite to the air bearing surface, and a laser diode module mounted on the bottom surface and adapted to emit a downward laser light to a write element of the thermal assisted magnetic head and an upward laser light, wherein a light shielding structure is provided to prevent the upward laser light emitting to other laser diode modules to generate light coupling, thereby improving thermal stability of the thermal assisted magnetic head.

Abstract: A plasmon generator has a front end face located in a medium facing surface of a magnetic head. The plasmon generator includes a metal portion and a multilayer film portion. The metal portion has a bottom surface, a top surface, and an end face facing toward the front end face. The multilayer film portion includes a first metal layer, a second metal layer and an intermediate layer, and covers the top surface and the end face of the metal portion. The intermediate layer is formed of a material that is higher in Vickers hardness than the metal material used to form the metal portion, the metal material used to form the first metal layer and the metal material used to form the second metal layer.

Abstract: A thermally assisted magnetic write head includes a waveguide having a first end surface included in an air bearing surface; a magnetic pole having a second end surface included in the air bearing surface; a plasmon generator having a third end surface included in the air bearing surface; a first protective film directly covering a part of the second end surface of the magnetic pole at least; and a second protective film directly covering the first end surface of the waveguide and the third end surface of the plasmon generator. The configuration can reduce recording density and improve thermal stability, furthermore increase the producing yield.

Abstract: A plasmon generator has a front end face, a first metal layer, a second meta-field light based on a surface plasmon. The intermediate layer is interposed between the first metal layer and the second metal layer. Each of the first metal layer, the second metal layer and the intermediate layer has an end located in the front end face. Each of the first and second metal layers is formed of a metal material. The intermediate layer is formed of a material higher in Vickers hardness than the metal material used to form the first metal layer and the metal material used to form the second metal layer.