Abstract: A method and system provide a storage device. A plurality of read sensor stacks for each reader of the storage device are provided. The read sensor stacks are distributed along a down track direction and offset in a cross-track direction. A plurality of electronic lapping guides (ELGs) are provided for the read sensor stacks. The read sensor stacks are lapped. Lapping is terminated based on signal(s) from the ELG(s).

Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) write apparatus includes a laser for providing energy and resides in proximity to a media during use. The HAMR write apparatus includes a write pole that writes to a region of the media, coil(s) for energizing the write pole and a waveguide optically coupled with the laser. The waveguide includes at least one multi-mode interference (MMI) device. The MMI device has at least one input, a plurality of outputs, a propagation section and a multi-mode interference (MMI) section. Energy from the laser propagates through the propagation section before the MMI section. The propagation section expands the energy from the laser to a plurality of modes. A first portion of the outputs is output from the propagation section. The MMI section is between the propagation section and a second portion of the plurality of outputs.

Abstract: Systems and devices for achieving high throughput attachment of sub-micron alignment of components are provided. One such device can include a fixture for holding a chuck, the fixture including a plurality of alignment features for adjusting a position of the chuck, the chuck includes a top layer including a vacuum aperture for holding a first component and a bottom layer made from a translucent material, wherein the bottom layer is directly attached to the top layer.

Abstract: A method and system provide a magnetic read apparatus. The magnetic read apparatus includes a read sensor. The read sensor includes a pinning layer, a nonmagnetic insertion layer and a pinned layer. The nonmagnetic insertion layer has a location selected from a first location and a second location. The first location is between the pinned layer and the pinning layer. The second location is within the pinning layer.

Abstract: A magnetic read apparatus includes a read sensor, a shield structure and a side magnetic bias structure. The read sensor includes a free layer having a side and a nonmagnetic spacer layer. The shield structure includes a shield pinning structure and a shield reference structure. The nonmagnetic spacer layer is between the shield reference structure and the free layer. The shield reference structure is between the shield pinning structure and the nonmagnetic spacer layer. The shield pinning structure includes a pinned magnetic moment in a first direction. The shield reference structure includes a shield reference structure magnetic moment weakly coupled with the pinned magnetic moment. The side magnetic bias structure is adjacent to the side of the free layer.

Abstract: A magnetic write apparatus has a media-facing surface (MFS), a pole having leading and trailing surfaces, a trailing shield having a pole-facing surface, a write gap and coil(s). The pole's trailing surface has a portion adjoining the MFS and oriented at a nonzero, acute bevel angle from a direction perpendicular to the MFS. The pole-facing surface includes a first portion adjoining the MFS and oriented at a first angle substantially the same as the bevel angle, a second portion oriented at a second angle greater than the first trailing shield angle, and a third portion oriented at a third angle substantially the same as the first angle. The write gap has first, second and third thicknesses adjacent to the first, second and third portions of the pole-facing surface, respectively. The first thickness is constant. The second thickness varies. The third thickness is constant and greater than the first thickness.

Abstract: A method and system provide a magnetic transducer having an air-bearing surface (ABS). The method includes providing a first shield, a first read sensor, an antiferromagnetically coupled (AFC) shield that includes an antiferromagnet, a second read sensor and a second shield. The read sensors are between the first and second shields. The AFC shield is between the read sensors. An optional anneal for the first shield is in a magnetic field at a first angle from the ABS. Anneals for the first and second read sensors are in magnetic fields in desired first and second read sensor bias directions. The AFC shield anneal is in a magnetic field at a third angle from the ABS. The second shield anneal is in a magnetic field at a fifth angle from the ABS. The fifth angle is selected based on a thickness and a desired AFC shield bias direction for the antiferromagnet.

Abstract: A magnetic write apparatus has a media-facing surface (MFS) and includes an auxiliary pole, coil(s) and a main pole having a pole tip and a yoke. The pole tip occupies part of the MFS. The yoke has a yoke length measured from the MFS in a yoke direction perpendicular to the MFS. The yoke length is less than four microns. The main pole has a total length in the yoke direction and a width in a cross-track direction. The main pole is continuous along the total length. The aspect ratio of the main pole is the total length divided by the width and exceeds one. The main pole includes surface(s) having a nonzero acute flare angle from the MFS. The auxiliary pole is adjacent to the main pole and recessed from the MFS by not more than 1.05 micron. The coil(s) energizes the main pole and have not more than two turns.

Abstract: A magnetic write apparatus includes a pole and a near field transducer. The pole extends in a yoke direction from a media facing surface where the yoke direction extends perpendicular to the media facing surface. The near field transducer includes a near field transducer cap and a near field transducer nose. The near field transducer nose is separated from the pole by the near field transducer cap and a dielectric gap and the near field transducer nose comprises a bevel surface that forms a bevel angle with a plane extending in the yoke direction.

Abstract: A method provides a magnetic transducer including a first antiferromagnetically coupled (AFC) shield, a second AFC shield and a read sensor between the first and second AFC shields. The first AFC shield includes first and second ferromagnetic layers and a first nonmagnetic spacer layer between the first and second ferromagnetic layers. The first and second ferromagnetic layers have first and second saturation magnetizations and first and second thicknesses, respectively. The second ferromagnetic layer is between the read sensor and the first ferromagnetic layer. The second AFC shield includes third and fourth ferromagnetic layers and a second nonmagnetic spacer layer between the third and fourth ferromagnetic layers. The third ferromagnetic layer is between the read sensor and the fourth ferromagnetic layer. The third and fourth ferromagnetic layers have third and saturation magnetizations and third and fourth thicknesses, respectively. The second AFC shield is a mirror image of the first AFC shield.

Abstract: A magnetic read apparatus includes a media-facing surface (MFS), a sensor, a shield structure, a side bias structure, and a shield reference bias structure. The sensor includes a free layer and a nonmagnetic layer. The shield structure includes a shield pinning structure and a shield reference structure between the shield pinning structure and the nonmagnetic layer. The nonmagnetic layer is between the free layer and a shield reference structure. The shield pinning structure includes a pinned moment oriented in a first direction. The shield reference structure includes a reference structure moment weakly coupled with the pinned moment. The side bias structure is adjacent to a side of the free layer and biases the free layer in a first direction parallel to the MFS. The shield reference bias structure is adjacent to the shield reference structure and biases the shield reference structure in a direction opposite to the first direction.

Abstract: A method provides a magnetic write apparatus. The method includes providing a pole including a pole tip, a yoke, a pole bottom and a pole top. The pole is seam free and formed vertically in a direction from the pole bottom toward the pole top. At least one coil for energizing the pole is also provided. In some aspects, providing the pole may include removing a portion of an intermediate layer to form a trench therein. The trench has a shape and location corresponding to the pole, a bottom, a top and sides. A conductive layer is deposited in the trench and on a top surface of the intermediate layer. Insulating layer(s) are provided on the sides of the trench. Only part of the conductive layer on the trench bottom is exposed. Pole material(s) are grown on the exposed portion of the conductive layer to provide the pole.

Abstract: A heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) writer is described. The HAMR writer is coupled with a laser that provides energy having a first polarization state. The HAMR writer has an air-bearing surface (ABS) configured to reside in proximity to a media during use, a plurality of waveguides, a main pole and at least one coil. The main pole writes to the media and is energized by the coil(s). The waveguides receive the energy from the laser and direct the energy toward the ABS. The waveguides include an input waveguide and an output waveguide. The input waveguide is configured to carry light having the first polarization state. The output waveguide is configured to carry light having a second polarization state different from the first polarization state. The waveguides are optically coupled and configured to transfer the energy from the first polarization state to the second polarization state.

Abstract: A method and system provide a storage device. A plurality of read sensor stacks for each reader of the storage device are provided. The read sensor stacks are distributed along a down track direction and offset in a cross-track direction. A plurality of electronic lapping guides (ELGs) are provided for the read sensor stacks. The read sensor stacks are lapped. Lapping is terminated based on signal(s) from the ELG(s).

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods of recording read heads with a multi-layer anti-ferromagnetic (AFM) layer are provided. The AFM layer has gradient Manganese (Mn) compositions. A multi-layer AFM layer comprises a plurality of sub-layers having different Mn compositions. An upper sub-layer has a higher Mn composition than an lower sub-layer. Different types of gases may be used to deposit each sub-layer and the flow of each gas may be adjusted.

Abstract: A magnetic write apparatus has a media-facing surface (MFS), a pole, a write gap, a top shield and coil(s). The pole includes a yoke and a pole tip. The pole tip includes a bottom, a top wider than the bottom and first and second sides. The pole tip has a height between the top and the bottom. At least part of the top of the pole tip is convex in a cross-track direction between the first and second sides such that the height at the MFS is larger between the first and second sides than at the first and second sides. The height increases in a yoke direction perpendicular to the MFS. The write gap is adjacent to and conformal with the top of the pole at the MFS and is between part of the top shield and the pole. The top shield is concave at the MFS.

Abstract: A heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) write apparatus has a media-facing surface (MFS) and includes a pole, coil(s) and a waveguide. The waveguide is optically coupled with a laser and directs energy toward the MFS. The waveguide includes an entrance, a bottom and a mode converter having a core, an inner cladding, high index layer(s) and an outer cladding. The core has sides that diverge in width. The core has a first index of refraction. The outer cladding has a second index of refraction less than the first index of refraction. The inner cladding has a third index of refraction not greater than the second index of refraction. The inner cladding is between the high index layer(s) and the core. The high index layer(s) are between the inner and outer cladding. The high index layer(s) have a high index of refraction greater than the second index of refraction.

Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) write apparatus includes a laser for providing energy and resides in proximity to a media during use. The HAMR write apparatus includes a write pole that writes to a region of the media, coil(s) for energizing the write pole and a waveguide optically coupled with the laser. The waveguide includes at least one multi-mode interference (MMI) device. The MMI device has at least one input, a plurality of outputs, a propagation section and a multi-mode interference (MMI) section. Energy from the laser propagates through the propagation section before the MMI section. The propagation section expands the energy from the laser to a plurality of modes. A first portion of the outputs is output from the propagation section. The MMI section is between the propagation section and a second portion of the plurality of outputs.

Abstract: Various embodiments described herein provide for substrate structures including uniform plating seed layers, and that provide favorable adhesion on dielectric substrate layers. According to some embodiments, a methods for forming a magnetic recording pole is provided comprising: forming an insulator layer; forming a trench in the insulator layer; forming an amorphous seed layer over the insulator layer; forming an adhesion layer over the amorphous seed layer, the adhesion layer comprising a physical vapor deposited (PVD) noble metal; forming a plating seed layer over the adhesion layer, the plating seed layer comprising chemical vapor deposited (CVD) Ru; and forming a magnetic material layer over the plating seed layer.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) writer is configured to magnetically record data on a rotatable disk surface. The PMR writer including a pole tip, side shields, an air-bearing surface (ABS) region, a yoke region comprising Silicon Dioxide (SiO2), side gaps and a plurality of throat regions. The side gaps are arranged respectively between the pole tip and the side shields and include SiO2. A side gap width of the plurality of throat regions increases with a side shield throat height above the ABS region for each of the throat regions. The side gap width has a different width variation in each of the throat regions.