Abstract: Depositing a seed layer for a high-moment shield onto a write pole may have a deleterious effect on the magnetic response of the write pole. Instead, an amorphous separation layer may be deposited between the write pole and the seed layer. In one embodiment, the seed layer is formed directly on the amorphous layer. In addition to separating the seed layer from the write pole, the amorphous separation layer permits the seed layer to dictate the crystallographic orientation of the shield which is subsequently deposited on the magnetic head. That is, the amorphous layer provides a substrate that allows the seed layer to have a crystalline structure independent of the layers that were deposited previously. The amorphous separation layer may comprise an amorphous metal—e.g., NiNb or NiTa—or an insulative material—e.g., alumina or silicon dioxide.

Abstract: A write pole structure disclosed herein includes a write pole layer, a bottom layer including a beveled surface, and a cap layer between the write pole layer and the bottom layer, wherein the cap layer is made of a material with hardness less than hardness of the write pole layer.

Abstract: Various methods for attaching a crystalline write pole onto an amorphous substrate and the resulting structures are described in detail herein. Further, the resulting structure may have a magnetic moment exceeding 2.4 Tesla. Still further, methods for depositing an epitaxial crystalline write pole on a crystalline seed or template material to ensure that the phase of the write pole is consistent with the high moment phase of the template material are also described in detail herein.

Abstract: A write pole structure disclosed herein includes a write pole layer, a bottom layer including a beveled surface, and a cap layer between the write pole layer and the bottom layer, wherein the cap layer is made of a material with hardness less than hardness of the write pole layer.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head is constructed such that a main magnetic pole layer, a write shield layer, a gap layer, and a thin-film coil are laminated on a substrate. The thin-film magnetic head has a leading shield part opposing the main magnetic pole layer on the substrate side of the main magnetic pole layer. The thin-film magnetic head has a substrate side coil layer disposed between the main magnetic pole layer and the substrate. In the thin-film magnetic head, a space between a lower end face of the leading shield part and the substrate and a space between an upper end face in the substrate side coil layer and the substrate are formed equal to each other.

Abstract: The application discloses a magnetic pole assembly having a pole tip arranged in a magnetic flux path and side shields separated from the pole tip by non-magnetic gap regions. The side shields are shaped to provide a differential shielding effect alongside the pole tip. As described, the sides shields are shaped to provide a non-magnetic gap region having a width that increases in the downtrack direction along a length of the pole tip. The increasing non-magnetic gap region alongside the pole tip provides a smaller non-magnetic gap region separating the pole tip from the side shields at the leading edge than the non-magnetic gap region separating the pole tip from the side shields at the trailing edge of the pole tip.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a magnetic write head having a write pole with a tapered leading edge formed on a substrate having a tapered surface and a wrap-around, trailing magnetic shield. The method uses a multi-layer anti-reflective coating prior to formation of the shield so that reflection from the tapered surface of the substrate does not affect the lithography of the mask used to form the trailing shield. The multi-layer antireflective coating is constructed of materials that can be left in the finished head, thereby eliminating problems associated with removal of the anti-reflective coating.

Abstract: A write element for magnetic recording includes a main pole and a shield. The main pole has first and second sides with respect to a down-track direction. The shield at least partially surrounds the main pole with a continuously concave inner sidewall. The angle between the inner sidewall of the shield and the direction of motion of the write element is greater than the angle between the sides of the main pole and the direction of motion.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) head is fabricated with main pole and a trailing edge shield antiferromagnetically coupled across a write gap by either having the write gap layer formed as a synthetic antiferromagnetic tri-layer (SAF) or formed as a monolithic layer of antiferromagnetic material. The coupling improves the write performance of the writer by enhancing the perpendicular component of the write field and its gradient. Methods of fabricating the writer are provided.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) head is fabricated with a main pole and a trailing edge shield having surfaces and interior portions that may include synthetic antiferromagnetic multi-layered superlattices (SAFS) formed on and/or within them respectively. The SAFS, which are multilayers formed as periodic multiples of antiferromagnetically coupled tri-layers, provide a mechanism for enhancing the component of the writing field that is vertical to the magnetic medium by exchange coupling to the magnetization of the pole and shield and constraining the directions of their magnetizations to lie within the film plane of the SAFS.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head is constructed such that a main magnetic pole layer, a write shield layer, a gap layer, and a thin-film coil are laminated on a substrate. The thin-film magnetic head includes a return magnetic pole layer and a connecting magnetic layer. The return magnetic pole layer is formed at a position distanced from the medium-opposing surface on the side opposite to the write shield layer with the main magnetic pole layer intervening therebetween. The connecting magnetic layer is formed using a magnetic material so as to connect the return magnetic pole layer to the write shield layer on the side closer to the medium-opposing surface than is the thin-film coil. The thin-film coil is wound as a flat spiral around the write shield layer. A part of the thin-film coil wound as the flat spiral is disposed only at a position distanced from the substrate than is the main magnetic pole layer.

Abstract: A stepped main pole for a perpendicular write head and methods of making the stepped main pole. The stepped main pole has a main pole tip and a base portion. The main pole tip has a surface that forms part of the ABS and a first thickness. The base portion extends from the main pole tip and has a thickness that varies from the first thickness to a second thickness to form a slanted surface with an apex angle adjacent the main pole tip. By placing the base portion away from the ABS and providing a thickness that increases in a direction away from the ABS, the stepped pole can provide the necessary magnetic flux for writing, while avoiding undesired leakage and fringing. To form embodiments of the stepped main pole of the invention, a fluorine-based reactive ion etch (RIE) may be used. By using an RIE to define the stepped main pole, the apex angle can be better controlled and tight edge control can be achieved.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a high-moment magnetic material used in a write head deposited on a gap layer that was grown using a nickel-chromium seed layer. The nickel-chromium seed layer provides the correct crystallographic orientation for both the nonmagnetic gap layer and the high-moment magnetic material such that the high-moment magnetic material has soft-magnetic properties and is useful as either a main pole or as shield layer in a write head. Moreover, the nickel-chronium seed layer, which may be exposed on the air bearing surface (ABS) of the write head, has an etch rate similar to other metals found in the ABS, thereby avoiding pole tip protrusion during later processing.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic write head having a laminated trailing return pole structure that reduces magnetic eddy currents in the return pole for improved write head efficiency. The trailing magnetic return pole includes multiple magnetic layers. Each magnetic layer is separated from an adjacent magnetic layer of the return pole by a non-magnetic layer. The non-magnetic layer terminates at a region that is removed from the air bearing surface in order to allow contact between the magnetic layers at the ABS, thereby preventing stray magnetic fields from emitting from the magnetic layers of the write pole.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided a spin torque oscillator including an oscillation layer formed of a magnetic material, a spin injection layer formed of a magnetic material and configured to inject a spin into the oscillation layer, and a current confinement layer including an insulating portion formed of an oxide or a nitride and a conductive portion formed of a nonmagnetic metal and penetrating the insulating portion in a direction of stacking. The conductive portion of the current confinement layer is positioned near a central portion of a plane of a device region including the oscillation layer and the spin injection layer.

Abstract: A write element for magnetic recording includes a main pole and a shield. The main pole has first and second sides with respect to a down-track direction. The shield at least partially surrounds the main pole with a continuously concave inner sidewall. The angle between the inner sidewall of the shield and the direction of motion of the write element is greater than the angle between the sides of the main pole and the direction of motion.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a magnetic write head for perpendicular magnetic recording. The method includes forming a write pole, and then depositing a refill layer. A mask structure can be formed over the writ pole and refill layer, the mask structure being configured to define a stitched pole. An ion milling or reactive ion milling can then be performed to remove portions of the refill layer that are not protected by the mask structure. Then a magnetic material can be deposited to form a stitched write pole that defines a secondary flare point. The stitched pole can also be self aligned with an electrical lapping guide in order to accurately locate the front edge of the secondary flare point relative to the air bearing surface of the write head.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording head includes a main magnetic pole generating a recording magnetic field in a magnetic recording medium, a return yoke paired with the main magnetic pole, and a spin torque oscillator interposed between the main magnetic pole and the return yoke and including a spin injection layer, an oscillation layer, a nonmagnetic metal layer, and spin assist layer stacked in this order, wherein the nonmagnetic metal layer includes at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Cu, Au, Ag, Al, Pd, Pt, Os, and Ir, and the spin assist layer is a soft magnetic layer whose saturation magnetic flux density (Bs), diamagnetic field coefficient (N) and gap magnetic field (Hg) show a relationship expressed by Bs×N>Hg.

Abstract: An example magnetic recording head includes: a main magnetic pole; a laminated body; and a pair of electrodes. The laminated body includes a first magnetic layer having a coercivity lower than magnetic field applied by the main magnetic pole, a second magnetic layer having a coercivity lower than the magnetic field applied by the main magnetic pole, and an intermediate layer provided between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer. The pair of electrodes is operable to pass a current through the laminated body.

Abstract: A method according to another embodiment includes forming a side shield layer of ferromagnetic material above a substrate; masking the side shield layer; milling an unmasked region of the side shield layer for forming a pole trench therein; and forming a pole layer in the pole trench. A structure according to one embodiment includes a substrate; a side shield layer of ferromagnetic material on the substrate, wherein the substrate has a region covered by the side shield layer and a region not covered by the side shield layer; a pole trench in the side shield layer and the region of the substrate not covered by the side shield layer; a layer of nonmagnetic material in the pole trench; and a pole layer in the pole trench, wherein the pole layer has a greater thickness above the region of the substrate not covered by the side shield layer than above the region of the substrate covered by the side shield layer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a magnetic film capable of providing a higher saturation magnetic flux density as compared with the conventional one, a process of forming the magnetic film, a thin film magnetic head that makes use of the magnetic film, and a magnetic disk drive having this thin film magnetic head. In one embodiment, a magnetic film contains Co, Ni, and Fe, and its composition is such that 10?Co<20 wt %, 0?Ni?2 wt %, and 80<Fe?90 wt %. This magnetic film is a plating layer formed by electroplating. The face interval variation of crystal surface perpendicular to the layer surface relative to a crystal surface parallel to the layer surface is about 0.4% or more, whereby the saturation magnetic flux density (Bs) is greater than about 2.4 T.

Abstract: At least one of lower and upper magnetic cores is composed of magnetic films each of which contains two or more elements of Co, Ni, and Fe, which are formed by electroplating in a plating bath with pH 2 or less, and which have a saturation magnetic flux density of 23,000 gauss or more.

Abstract: A magnetic film capable of generating strong magnetic fields even in a high frequency region, a manufacturing method therefore and a thin film magnetic head capable of recording even in a high frequency region are provided. In one embodiment, the magnetic film is manufactured by using a 88FeNi film of 200 nm thick having minimum Hk of 0.32 Oe (25.6 A/m) as a main magnetic film and selecting a 20 wt % FeNi film of a similar FeNi alloy plating film having low Hk and low Hc as an interlayer material. A stacked film comprising (88FeNi/20FeNi)×10 layers is prepared so that the total thickness of the main magnetic film is 2 ?m. The 88FeNi film is prepared by application of a DC current in a 88FeNi plating bath, and the 20FeNi film is prepared by pulse plating successively in the same bath.

Abstract: In the magnetic film, projection of a magnetic pole, which is caused when a magnetic head is heated, can be restrained. The magnetic film can be applied to a magnetic head of a hard disk drive unit capable of recording data with high recording density. The magnetic film comprises: a first alloy film made of an alloy of iron (Fe) and platinum (Pt), or an alloy of iron (Fe), platinum (Pt) and other metal or metals; and a second alloy film directly layered on the first alloy film, the second alloy film made of an alloy of at least two metals selected from a group including iron (Fe), nickel (Ni) and cobalt (Co). Molar content of iron (Fe) in the first alloy film is 63-74%.

Abstract: An article is formed as a substrate having a projection extending outwardly therefrom. The article may be a magnetic recording head and the projection a write pole. The projection has a width in a thinnest dimension measured parallel to a substrate surface of no more than about 0.3 micrometers and a height measured perpendicular to the substrate of not less than about 5 times the width. The article is fabricated by forming an overlying structure on the substrate with an edge thereon, depositing a replication layer lying on the edge, depositing a filler onto the edge and the substrate, so that the filler, the replication layer, and the overlying structure in combination comprise a continuous layer on the substrate, selectively removing at least a portion of the replication layer from a free surface of the continuous layer inwardly toward the substrate, to form a defined cavity, and depositing a projection material into the defined cavity to form the projection.

Abstract: The invention provides a magnetic head for perpendicular magnetic recording having an air bearing surface positioned facing the recording surface of a recording medium, which records magnetic information on the recording medium by generating magnetic flux toward the recording surface of the recording medium, and comprises a magnetic pole which generates magnetic flux toward the recording surface of the recording medium and a return yoke having one end connected to the magnetic pole and the other end positioned facing the recording surface of the recording medium, wherein the material composing the magnetic pole has a magnetostriction constant ? of at least 0 and less than 10×10?6, with a parameter P represented by the formula: P=Hk/(?×?) (where Hk represents the magnetic anisotropic field (A/m), ? represents the stress (MPa) and ? represents the magnetostriction constant) of larger than 0.1 and less than 200.

Abstract: A soft magnetic film of the present invention is a plated film composed of Co and Fe, and columnar crystals extending in the film thickness direction are provided. In the present invention, columnar crystals extending in the film thickness direction are provided so that an improvement in the surface roughness of the film surface and an improvement in the corrosion resistance can be achieved. Furthermore, the saturation magnetic flux density Bs can also be improved by making the crystal fine and eliminating the need for addition of the noble metal element. That is, according to a CoFe alloy of the present invention, both the corrosion resistance and the saturation magnetic flux density Bs can be improved, and specifically, the above-mentioned saturation magnetic flux density Bs can be increased to 2.35 T or more.

Abstract: The magnetic thin film has high saturation magnetic flux density and superior soft magnetic characteristics. The magnetic thin film of the present invention comprises: a base layer being made of FeCo/NiFe; and a plated layer being formed on the base layer, the plated layer being made of FeCo.

Abstract: A seed layer structure for improved crystallographic orientation of grains in a hard magnetic material is disclosed. The seed layer structure is comprised of alternating layers of a metal and a dielectric. Hard magnetic materials deposited on the seed layer structure have superior properties and performance in providing hard bias to a ferromagnetic layer in a magnetic sensor. The seed layer structure also accommodates a relatively large total thickness, which is preferable in magnetic sensors with an ultra contiguous junction arrangement.

Abstract: An electroplated magnetic thin film consisting of an electroplated film of Fe—Co alloy containing Fe by an amount of 52–86 wt % and having a highly packed fine crystal grain structure, a flat and glossy surface, a high saturation magnetic flux density not less than 2.1 T, a low coercive force of 5–10 Oe, and being particularly suitable as a pole portion of a thin film magnetic head is proposed. The electroplated magnetic thin film is deposited on a substrate by an electroplating process with a pulsatory current or direct current having a current density of 3–120 mA/cm2 while using an electroplating bath containing one or both of sulfate salt and hydrochloric salt serving as supply sources of Fe ions and Co ions, saccharin sodium serving as a stress relaxation agent by an amount not less than 1 g/l, boric acid as a pH buffer agent, ammonium chloride as an electrically conductivity salt, and sodium lauryl sulfate as a surfactant.