Abstract: A TAMR head is disclosed with a triangular shaped plasmon antenna covered on two sides with a plasmon layer that generates an edge plasmon mode along a vertex of the two plasmon sides formed opposite a main pole layer. A plasmon shield (PS) is formed along the ABS and opposite the vertex to confine an electric field from the edge plasmon mode within a small radius of the edge plasmon tip thereby reducing the optical spot size on the magnetic medium and enhancing writability. An end of a waveguide used to direct input electromagnetic radiation to the plasmon antenna adjoins a PS side opposite the ABS. In one embodiment, a magnetic shield may be formed along the ABS and adjoins the PS so that a first PS section terminates at the ABS and faces the vertex while a second PS section is formed between the magnetic shield and waveguide end.

Abstract: A TAMR (Thermal Assisted Magnetic Recording) writer has a narrow pole tip with a trailing edge magnetic shield. The narrow pole tipped write head uses the energy of laser generated edge plasmons, formed in a plasmon generating layer, to locally heat a PMR magnetic recording medium below its Curie temperature, Tc. When combined with the effects of the narrow tip, this local heating to a temperature below Tc is sufficient to create good transitions and narrow track widths in the magnetic medium. The write head is capable of writing effectively on state-of-the-art PMR recording media having Hk of 20 kOe or more.

Abstract: A magneto-optical transducer including a magnetic layer on a transparent, non-magnetic substrate is used to characterize the performance of a write head based on optically detected magnetization in the magnetic layer. The write head sample is held in contact with or near the magnetic layer, which is illuminated through the substrate with linearly polarized light. Magnetization in the write head produces a magnetization in the magnetic layer, which alters the polarization state in reflected light. The reflected light is analyzed and the intensity detected using an optical detector, such as one or more photo-detectors or a camera. The performance of the write head can then be characterized using the detected intensity.

Abstract: An information reproducing apparatus has a medium with a linear tracking mark extending in a scanning direction and a linear data mark extending in a direction orthogonal to the scanning direction. A light control unit irradiates the data mark with a first near-field light polarized in the scanning direction and irradiates the tracking mark with a second near-field light polarized in the direction orthogonal to the scanning direction. A detector detects light scattered by the data mark and the tracking mark irradiated with the first near-field light and the second near-field light, respectively. A signal processing unit processes a first output signal from the detector corresponding to the detected light scattered by the data mark and processes a second output signal from the detector corresponding to the detected light scattered by the tracking mark.

Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic write head includes a magnetic pole having an end surface exposed at an air bearing surface, a waveguide extending toward the air bearing surface to propagate light, a first pair of clads made of a first dielectric material having a refractive index lower than that of the waveguide, and sandwiching the waveguide in a track width direction, and a second pair of clads made of a second dielectric material having a refractive index lower than that of the first dielectric material, and sandwiching the waveguide in a thickness direction orthogonal to the track width direction. Further, the heat-assisted magnetic write head may include, between the magnetic pole and the waveguide, a plasmon generator generating near-field light from the air bearing surface, based on light propagating through the waveguide.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a waveguide shaped to direct light to a focal point, and a near-field transducer positioned adjacent to the focal point, wherein the near-field transducer includes a dielectric component and a metallic component positioned adjacent to at least a portion of the dielectric component. An apparatus includes a waveguide shaped to direct light to a focal point, and a near-field transducer positioned adjacent to the focal point, wherein the near-field transducer includes a first metallic component, a first dielectric layer positioned adjacent to at least a portion of the first metallic component, and a second metallic component positioned adjacent to at least a portion of the first dielectric component.

Abstract: Provided is a head gimbal assembly (HGA) in which the electrodes for a thermally-assisted magnetic recording head comprising a light source, a photodetector and a magnetic head element, can be reliably electrically connected to wiring members by solder ball bonding (SBB). The HGA comprises a suspension comprising: a base; a first wiring member for the light source and the photodetector, provided on a side of one surface of the base; and a second wiring member for the magnetic head element, provided on the same surface side. The first and second wiring members protrude from the base toward the head to be fixed. As a result, the end portions (connection pads) of the first and second wiring members can be located close to electrodes for light-source and photodetector and electrodes for magnetic head element, respectively. This arrangement enables the end portions of the first and second wiring members to be reliably electrically connected to the electrodes by SBB.

Abstract: A thermally assisted magnetic head includes a main magnetic pole for writing and a near-field light generator provided near the main magnetic pole, the near-field light generator having a non-magnetic base metal layer, a non-magnetic upper metal layer, an intermediate insulating layer interposed between the base metal layer and the upper metal layer, and the base metal layer having a V-shaped groove and also the upper metal layer having a projection facing the deepest part in the groove of the base metal layer, in a vertical cross-section parallel to a medium facing surface.

Abstract: A thermally-assisted magnetic head that includes an air bearing surface facing a recording medium and that performs magnetic recording while heating the recording medium includes: a magnetic recording element including a pole of which one edge part is positioned on the air bearing surface and that generates magnetic flux traveling toward the magnetic recording medium; a waveguide configured with a core through which light propagates and a cladding, at least one part of which extends to the air bearing surface, surrounding the periphery of the core; a plasmon generator that faces a part of the core and that extends to the air bearing surface.

Abstract: In accordance with certain embodiments, an apparatus has a depletion-mode transistor electrically connected to a laser diode. The transistor provides a low impedance path for diverting electrostatic current away from the laser diode. In accordance with certain embodiments, a method for protecting a laser diode from an electrostatic charge includes providing a transistor that is electrically connected to a laser diode and has a drain and a source. The method further includes redirecting the electrostatic charge through a low impedance path from the drain to the source during a powered-on state.

Abstract: A light source unit includes a light source and a photodetector. The light source has an emission part for emitting light. The photodetector has a light receiving surface for receiving the light emitted from the emission part, and detects the light. The light source unit further includes a grating made of metal and disposed to extend along the light receiving surface. The grating includes a plurality of line-shaped portions that each extend in a direction intersecting the direction of travel of the light and that are located at positions different from each other along the direction of travel of the light.

Abstract: A thermally-assisted magnetic head that has an air bearing surface (ABS) facing a recording medium and that performs magnetic recording while heating the recording medium includes: a magnetic recording element that includes a pole of which an edge part is positioned on the ABS and which generates magnetic flux traveling to the recording medium; a waveguide that is configured with a core through which light propagates and a cladding, surrounding a periphery of the core, at least one part of which extends to the ABS; a plasmon generator that faces a part of the core and that extends toward the ABS side; and a bank layer that is positioned between the plasmon generator and the pole, and of which an edge part on the ABS side protrudes relative to the plasmon generator.

Abstract: A thermally assisted magnetic recording head includes a magnetic recording element part for writing, a main waveguide for assistance for receiving light, and a dummy waveguide component part provided in parallel to the main waveguide. The dummy waveguide component part includes a pair of waveguides having the same shape and dimensions including a first waveguide and a second waveguide that receive light from a back end surface opposite to an air bearing surface and guides the light toward the air bearing surface, and light emitting ends of the first waveguide and the second waveguide facing towards the air bearing surface have no shielding material, and are in a free condition so that the light intensity from the light emitting ends can be measured.

Abstract: A near-field light generating element has a core that guides a laser light in a direction of a disk while reflecting the laser light, and a cladding that encapsulates the core in an inner portion, and lengths of a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction of an incident side end surface of the laser light in the core are formed so as to match the lengths of a long axis direction and a short axis direction of the laser light that is entered to the core.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes a near field transducer comprising a conductive metal film having a main body and a ridge extending from the main body and an optical waveguide for illumination of the near field transducer, a light guiding core layer of the optical waveguide being spaced from the near field transducer by less than about 100 nanometers and greater than 0 nanometers. In another embodiment, a method includes forming a near field transducer structure and removing a portion of the near field transducer structure. The method also includes forming a cladding layer adjacent a remaining portion of the near field transducer structure, wherein a portion of the cladding layer extends along the remaining portion of the near field transducer structure and forming a core layer above the cladding layer. Other apparatuses and methods are also included in the invention.

Abstract: A write head includes a cavity configured to couple a laser diode to the write head. A bottom of the cavity includes a heat conductive element configured to contact the laser diode, a plurality of thermal studs disposed below the heat conductive element, and a substrate disposed below the thermal studs. The heat conductive element, thermal studs, and substrate are thermally coupled to draw heat from the laser diode.

Abstract: Disclosed is a light spot forming element which is capable of forming a minute stabilized light spot efficiently and is easy to handle. For this purpose, there is provided a light spot forming element wherein a laser oscillation unit which has a periodic refractive index distribution and is employed as a laser resonator, and a focusing unit that receives the light emitted by this laser oscillation unit and forms a light spot by focusing this received light are formed on the same substrate.

Abstract: A thermally-assisted magnetic recording head that includes an air bearing surface facing a recording medium and that performs a magnetic recording while heating the recording medium includes a waveguide configured with a core through which light propagates and a cladding that surrounds a periphery of the core and that includes at least a portion extending to the air bearing surface; and a heat radiation layer that is embedded in the cladding that surrounds the periphery of the core on the air bearing surface, and that is made of a material having a higher thermal conductivity coefficient than the cladding.

Abstract: A recorder has a recording medium for information recording, a light source, an optical system, a slider, and an optical waveguide. To the optical system, light from the light source enters, and the slider moves relative to the recording medium while not in contact therewith. The optical waveguide is arranged at position facing the recording medium in the slider so that light entering from the optical system is irradiated on the recording medium. Where the mode field diameter of the optical waveguide on the light output side is d and the mode field diameter thereof on the light input side is D, the mode field diameter is converted by smoothly changing the diameter of the optical waveguide to satisfy D>d.

Abstract: This invention provides a surface plasmon polariton direction change device (1) for changing a propagation direction of a surface plasmon polariton (5). The surface plasmon polariton direction change device (1) includes a metal film support member (2), and a first metal film (3) and a second metal film (4) which are provided on a predetermined surface of the metal film support member (2), are provided adjacently to each other, and are different from each other in effective refractive index.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a waveguide including a core layer having curved edges shaped to reflect light to a focal point, and a grating positioned adjacent to or imbedded in the core layer, wherein at least a portion of the grating is positioned between the curved edges and adjacent to or imbedded in a portion of the core layer that is not traversed by light reflected from the curved edges. A data storage device that includes the apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: Provided is a head gimbal assembly (HGA) in which the electrodes for a thermally-assisted magnetic recording head comprising a light source, a photodetector and a magnetic head element, can be reliably electrically connected to wiring members by solder ball bonding (SBB). The HGA comprises a suspension comprising: a base; a first wiring member for the light source and the photodetector, provided on a side of one surface of the base; and a second wiring member for the magnetic head element, provided on the same surface side. The first and second wiring members protrude from the base toward the head to be fixed. As a result, the end portions (connection pads) of the first and second wiring members can be located close to electrodes for light-source and photodetector and electrodes for magnetic head element, respectively. This arrangement enables the end portions of the first and second wiring members to be reliably electrically connected to the electrodes by SBB.

Abstract: An apparatus having a transducer assembly that includes a waveguide having first and second cladding layers and a core layer between the first and second cladding layers, and a grating structured to couple electromagnetic radiation into the waveguide. The grating has a plurality of elongated slits that are substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the waveguide. The apparatus further has a light source mounted adjacent the waveguide to direct light onto the grating.

Abstract: A thermally assisted magnetic head has a medium-facing surface facing a magnetic recording medium; a near-field light generator disposed on a light exit face in the medium-facing surface; a magnetic recording element located adjacent to the near-field light generator; and a light emitting element disposed so that emitted light thereof reaches the near-field light generator; the near-field light generator is comprised of a cusp portion and a base portion; when ?in represents a wavelength of the emitted light from the light emitting element immediately before the emitted light reaches the near-field light generator, an intensity of near-field light generated when the material forming the cusp portion is irradiated with the light of the wavelength ?in is stronger than an intensity of near-field light generated when the material forming the base portion is irradiated with the light of the wavelength ?in.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a structure including a waveguide and a pocket adjacent to an input facet of the waveguide. A laser has an output facet and is positioned in the pocket. A stop is included one at least one of the laser and a wall of the pocket. The stop is positioned at an interface between the laser and the wall of the pocket such that the output facet of the laser and the input facet of the waveguide are separated by a gap.

Abstract: A TAMR head is disclosed with a triangular shaped plasmon antenna covered on two sides with a plasmon layer that generates an edge plasmon mode along a vertex of the two plasmon sides formed opposite a main pole layer. A plasmon shield (PS) is formed along the ABS and opposite the vertex to confine an electric field from the edge plasmon mode within a small radius of the edge plasmon tip thereby reducing the optical spot size on the magnetic medium and enhancing writability. An end of a waveguide used to direct input electromagnetic radiation to the plasmon antenna adjoins a PS side opposite the ABS. In one embodiment, a magnetic shield may be formed along the ABS and adjoins the PS so that a first PS section terminates at the ABS and faces the vertex while a second PS section is formed between the magnetic shield and waveguide end.

Abstract: Disclosed is a thermally assisted magnetic recording medium comprising a substrate, a plurality of underlayers formed on the substrate, and a magnetic layer which is formed on the underlayers and predominantly comprised of an alloy having an L10 structure, characterized in that at least one of said underlayers is predominantly comprised of MgO and comprises at least one kind of an element having a free energy for oxidation of, per mol of oxygen, not higher than ?120 kcal/mol·O2 at 1000° C. The element having the free energy for oxidation is preferably selected from Al, Si, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Zr and B . The thermally assisted magnetic recording medium has a magnetic layer comprised of magnetic crystal grains with uniform diameters, and exhibiting a sufficiently weak exchange coupling between magnetic grains.

Abstract: Provided is a light source unit that is to be joined to a slider to form a thermally-assisted magnetic recording head. The light source unit comprises: a unit substrate having a source-installation surface; a light source provided in the source-installation surface and emitting thermal-assist light; and a photodetector bonded to a rear joining surface of the unit substrate in such a manner that a rear light-emission center of the light source is covered with a light-receiving surface of the photodetector. The photodetector can be sufficiently close to the light source; thus, constant feedback adjustment with high efficiency for the light output of the light source can be performed. This adjustment enables light output from the light source to be controlled in response to changes in light output due to surroundings and to changes with time to stabilize the intensity of light with which a magnetic recording medium is irradiated.

Abstract: Disclosed is a thermally assisted magnetic recording medium comprising a substrate, a plurality of underlayers formed on the substrate, and a magnetic layer which is formed on the underlayers and predominantly comprised of an alloy having a L10 structure, characterized in that at least one of the underlayers is predominantly comprised of MgO and comprises at least one kind of a metal element having a melting point of at least 2,000° C., such as Nb, Mo, Ru, Ta or W. The thermally assisted magnetic recording medium has magnetic crystal grains having uniform size in the magnetic layer, and has a narrow switching field distribution (SFD), and a magnetic recording storage provided with the thermally assisted magnetic recording medium exhibits a high SN ratio.

Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic recording head includes a magnetic pole, a waveguide that allows light to propagate therethrough, a near-field light generating element that generates near-field light based on the light propagating through the waveguide, a convergent lens, and a laser diode disposed above the waveguide. The convergent lens transmits light that is emitted from the laser diode, so that the light transmitted through the convergent lens is incident on the waveguide.

Abstract: In a thermally assisted magnetic recording head having a light source and a waveguide to lead a laser beam radiated from the light source to a front end of the magnetic head, while blocking an adverse effect of heat generated in the light source and securing a good floating characteristic, the light source and the magnetic head are optically coupled with high efficiency and the magnetic head itself is reduced in size. This invention provides a reflection mirror that is formed of a part or whole of one inclined end surface of the semiconductor laser mounted on the first submount. Near one end surface of the slider is provided the optical waveguide that pierces through the slider in a direction of the thickness thereof.

Abstract: A flexible waveguide with an adjustable index of refraction. The core layer and/or the cladding layer of a flexible waveguide may include a plurality of nanoparticles having a different index of refraction than the core layer and/or cladding layer. The plurality of nanoparticles may have an index of refraction that is greater than or less than an index of refraction of either the core layer or the cladding layer in order that the overall effective index of refraction of either the core layer or the cladding layer can be adjusted.

Abstract: An optical recording head to record information onto a recording medium utilizing light including; a slider provided to move relatively to the recording medium; a light propagation element provided on a side surface of the slider substantially vertical against a recording surface of the recording medium so as to cause propagation of light incident with a predetermined angle to be irradiated on the recording medium; and, a prism provided on the light propagation element so as to oppose to the side surface of the slider having the light propagation element and to deflect the incident light to be incident into the light propagation element with a predetermined angle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an information recording and reproduction apparatus which records the information on a disk by heating the disk with near-field light and causing magnetization reversal by applying a recording magnetic field to the disk. An optical waveguide 32, which introduces light beam emitted from a laser light source into a slider, and a plurality of electric wiring lines 31, which electrically connects the slider and a control unit to each other, are provided. A photoelectric composite wiring line 33 is provided in which the optical waveguide 32 and the plurality of electric wiring line 31 are integrally formed.

Abstract: A flexible waveguide with an adjustable index of refraction. The core layer and/or the cladding layer of a flexible waveguide may include a plurality of nanoparticles having a different index of refraction than the core layer and/or cladding layer. The plurality of nanoparticles may have an index of refraction that is greater than or less than an index of refraction of either the core layer or the cladding layer in order that the overall effective index of refraction of either the core layer or the cladding layer can be adjusted.

Abstract: A laser diode is fixed to a light source support substrate and a first surface of a slider substrate is fixed to a second surface of the light source support substrate; therefore, the slider substrate and the laser diode are kept in a fixed positional relation. Since the laser diode faces a light entrance face of a core, long-distance propagation of light as in the conventional technology does not occur, and light emitted from a light emitting element is guided well to a medium-facing surface while permitting some mounting error and coupling loss of light. A spot size w of a light intensity distribution along the X-axis in the XY plane including an incident-light centroid position on the light entrance face is set larger than a thickness of the core, whereby variation in incidence efficiency is well suppressed against positional deviation.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a thin film metallic layer, a first dielectric layer arranged on a first side of said thin film metallic layer and having a first index of refraction, a second dielectric layer arranged on a side of the first dielectric layer opposite of said thin film metallic layer from said first dielectric layer, the second dielectric layer having a second index of refraction that is higher than the first index of refraction; and wherein the thin film metallic layer, the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer are arranged in a conical shape to direct plasmon waves induced at an interface between the thin film metallic layer and the first dielectric layer to an aperture.

Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetooptic device, a magnetooptic head, and a magnetic disk drive each capable of performing optically assisted magnetic recording and each having a small size, improved recording density, and a higher transfer rate. In a magnetooptic device, a magnetic circuit including a magnetic gap and a thin film magnetic transducer having a coil portion are stacked on the surface of a semiconductor laser. By the arrangement, optically assisted magnetic recording can be performed, small size and light weight are achieved, and higher transfer rate can be implemented.

Abstract: An optical transducer includes an optical element for directing an electromagnetic wave to a focal region and a metallic nano-structure having a longitudinal axis non-parallel to an electric field of the electromagnetic wave. The optical element for directing an electromagnetic wave may comprise one of a solid immersion lens, a solid immersion mirror, or a planar waveguide. The metallic nano-structure may comprise a metallic pin. The metallic nano-structure may be structured and arranged for resonant coupling of energy into a recording medium.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a moveable arm for positioning an optical transducer adjacent to a storage medium, a light source, and an elliptical or ellipsoid shaped mirror mounted for reflecting light from the light source to the optical transducer. The elliptical mirror can be positioned on an ellipse, the moveable arm can pivot about an axis passing through a first focus of the ellipse, and the light source can direct light from a point on a second axis passing through a second focus of the ellipse to the elliptical minor. The light source can include a fixed laser and a moveable mirror mounted to pivot about the second axis or a moveable laser mounted to pivot about the second axis. A method performed by the apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing an optical spot on the order of 25 nm in a recording media. The apparatus includes an optical transducer comprising a waveguide which defines an aperture adjacent to an air bearing surface of the transducer adjacent a recording media. The transducer includes a protrusion extending beyond the plane of the air bearing surface extending toward the recording media.

Abstract: An apparatus having a first pole with a first side and a second side opposite from the first side, a second pole positioned on the first side of the first pole, and a waveguide positioned on the second side of the first pole wherein the waveguide has an end adjacent to an air bearing surface. The first pole includes a first portion spaced from the waveguide and a second portion extending from the first portion to the air bearing surface, with the second portion being structured such that an end of the second portion is closer to the waveguide than the first portion.

Abstract: In a particular embodiment, a recording head includes a tapered waveguide adapted to propagate light from a light source a slider adjacent to a surface of a storage medium. The tapered waveguide is adapted to output an elliptical beam to a grating coupler on a slider. The recording head further includes a slider waveguide extending substantially normal to a surface of the storage medium and a grating adapted to couple the elliptical beam into the slider waveguide.

Abstract: A light delivery module, a method of fabricating the same, a heat-assisted magnetic recording head using the light delivery module are provided. The light delivery module delivers light emitted from a light source. The light delivery module includes an optical waveguide having an inclined plane of an angle ? with respect to an incident light axis to deliver an incident light, and a nano aperture changing an energy distribution of the light delivered through the inclined plane to generate an enhanced near-field. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head is mounted on one end of a slider with an air bearing surface to perform a recording operation on a recording medium. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head includes a magnetic path forming unit forming a magnetic field for recording, a light source emitting light for heating a predetermined region of a recording surface of the recording medium, and the light delivery module.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a moveable arm for positioning an optical transducer adjacent to a storage medium, a stationary light source, and a moveable mirror mounted at a pivot axis of the arm for reflecting light from the light source to the optical transducer. An actuator can be provided for rotating the moveable mirror through an angle of about one half of an angle of rotation of the moveable arm.

Abstract: In a magneto optical device is which a laser beam is shone in operation through a coil (5), the coil holder (6) comprises a concavely curved exit surface with a radius of curvature R lying between 0.5 D and 15 D (0.5 D?R?15 D) where D is the diameter of the concavely shaped exit surface.

Abstract: A system according to one embodiment comprises a slider having a first light channel and a second light channel, the first and second light channels having axes oriented at an angle relative to each other, the angle being less than 180 degrees; and a reflection portion adjacent an exit of the first light channel and an entrance to the second light channel, the reflection portion having an index of refraction that is different than an index of refraction of the first light channel, such that light from the first light channel is reflected into the second light channel. Additional systems and methods are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetooptic device, a magnetooptic head, and a magnetic disk drive each capable of performing optically assisted magnetic recording and each having a small size, improved recording density, and a higher transfer rate. In a magnetooptic device, a magnetic circuit including a magnetic gap and a thin film magnetic transducer having a coil portion are stacked on the surface of a semiconductor laser. By the arrangement, optically assisted magnetic recording can be performed, small size and light weight are achieved, and higher transfer rate can be implemented.

Abstract: An information reproducing apparatus has a light source for generating linearly polarized light, a medium having linear marks disposed in overlapping relation to one another, and an optical head disposed between the light source and the medium and having a fine aperture. A polarized light control portion in the light source controls the linearly polarized light to pass through the fine aperture of the optical head to generate near-field light having a preselected polarization direction and to irradiate the linear marks of the medium with the near-field light so that the preselected polarization direction of the near-field light is orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of each of the linear marks. A detector detects light scattered by the linear mark irradiated with the near-field light.

Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetooptic device, a magnetooptic head, and a magnetic disk drive each capable of performing optically assisted magnetic recording and each having a small size, improved recording density, and a higher transfer rate. In a magnetooptic device, a magnetic circuit including a magnetic gap and a thin film magnetic transducer having a coil portion are stacked on the surface of a semiconductor laser. By the arrangement, optically assisted magnetic recording can be performed, small size and light weight are achieved, and higher transfer rate can be implemented.