Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for manufacturing magneto-resistive devices utilized in magneto-resistive read elements by depositing a plurality of rows of magnetic transducers on a wafer. The wafer may then be diced/cut into bars of active device regions for incorporation into a magnetic recording head. Sampling of a subset of bars from one or more bar sections of the wafer may be processed to obtain feedback associated with magnetic erase width (MEW). An air bearing surface (ABS) tilt angle based on the MEW feedback may then be applied to the one or more bar sections of the water during subsequent processing to optimize the magnetic performance of each resulting magneto-resistive device.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed comprising control circuitry configured to measure a rotation speed of a disk over multiple revolutions of the disk to generate a measured range of rotation speeds, select a target rotation speed from the measured range of rotation speeds, and when the rotation speed of the disk substantially matches the target rotation speed, enable writing of servo data on the disk using a head.

Abstract: A method and system provide a magnetic transducer including a first shield, a read sensor, and a second shield. The read sensor is between the first shield and the second shield. The read sensor has a free layer including a plurality of ferromagnetic layers interleaved with and sandwiching at least one additional layer. Each of the ferromagnetic layers includes at least one of Fe, Co and B and has a first corrosion resistance. The additional layer(s) have a second corrosion resistance greater than the first corrosion resistance.

Abstract: A tunneling magnetoresistive read head produced thereby are disclosed. A shield layer is provided. A magnetic etch-stop layer is formed over the shield layer, where the magnetic etch-stop layer comprises a nonmagnetic metal and a soft magnetic material with overall property still being magnetically soft. A sensor stack is formed over the magnetic etch-stop layer. A patterned mask layer is formed over the sensor stack. Material from a portion of the sensor stack not covered by the patterned mask is removed.

Abstract: A tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) read sensor having a tabbed AFM layer and an extended pinned layer and methods for making the same are provided. The TMR read sensor has an AFM layer recessed from the air bearing surface, providing a reduced shield-to-shield distance.

Abstract: A method is provided for providing a magnetic recording transducer having a pinning layer with high pinning field stability. A bottom structure comprising a substrate, a magnetic shield above the substrate, a magnetic seed layer above the shield, a nonmagnetic spacer layer above the magnetic seed layer, and a layer of antiferromagnetic (AFM) material on the nonmagnetic spacer layer is provided. The bottom structure is heated to a temperature of at least 373 Kelvin (K) and then the bottom structure is cooled until the temperature of the structure is reduced to less than 293K. A pinned layer is deposited on the AFM layer, a nonmagnetic spacer is provided on the pinned layer, and a read sensor fabricated above the nonmagnetic spacer. In one embodiment, cooling the structure comprises reducing the temperature of the structure by at least 100K in less than 25 minutes.

Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) transducer is coupled with a laser for providing energy and has an air-bearing surface (ABS) configured to reside in proximity to a media during use. The HAMR transducer includes a write pole, at least one coil, and a tapered waveguide optically coupled with the laser. The write pole is configured to write to a region of the media. The coil(s) energize the write pole. The tapered waveguide includes an entrance distal from the ABS, a bottom proximate to the ABS, a first side and a second side opposite to the first side. At least a portion of the first side and the second side converge in accordance with a function having at least one term having an order greater than one.

Abstract: A magnetic read transducer including a magnetoresistive sensor is described, as well as a fabrication method thereof. The magnetoresistive sensor includes a cap layer overlaying a free layer. The cap layer is situated with a first thickness to absorb boron from the free layer. The magnetoresistive sensor is annealed, and boron is diffused from the free layer and absorbed by the cap layer, improving the magnetic performance of the free layer. The cap layer thickness is then reduced to a second thickness, thereby reducing the shield-to-shield (SS) stack spacing of the magnetoresistive sensor and allowing for increased areal recording density.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a magnetic recording head is described. The magnetic recording head has an air-bearing surface (ABS) configured to reside in proximity to a media during use. The magnetic recording head includes a main pole, at least one auxiliary pole, a nonmagnetic spacer, and at least one coil. The main pole includes a first main pole piece and a second main pole piece. The first main pole piece includes a pole tip occupying a portion of the ABS and a back edge distal from the ABS. The second main pole piece has a front surface. The auxiliary pole(s) have a front recessed from the ABS and are magnetically coupled with the main pole. The nonmagnetic spacer is between the back edge of the first main pole piece and the front surface of the second main pole piece. The coil(s) are for energizing the main pole.

Abstract: Methods for characterizing relative film density using spectroscopic analysis at the device level are provided. One such method includes obtaining a composition of materials at preselected areas of a workpiece using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, obtaining an electron energy loss spectrum-imaging data at each of the preselected areas using electron energy loss spectroscopy, removing, for each of the preselected areas, a preselected noise component of the electron energy spectrum-imaging data to form a plasmon energy spectrum-imaging data, generating, for each of the preselected areas, a plasmon energy map based on the respective plasmon energy spectrum-imaging data, determining, for each of the preselected areas, an average plasmon energy value from the respective plasmon energy map, and calculating a relative mass density of the preselected areas based on the average plasmon energy value, a number of valence electrons per molecule, and a molecular weight for each of the preselected areas.

Abstract: A method fabricates a magnetic transducer having air-bearing surface (ABS) location and an intermediate layer having a trench therein. The trench has a shape and location corresponding to a main pole. The method includes depositing at least one main pole layer. A portion of the main pole layer(s) is in the trench. A refill layer is provided on the main pole layer(s). The main pole layer(s) may not be patterned after being provided and before the refill layer is provided. At least the refill layer is planarized. A full-film metal planarization is performed for at least one of the refill layer and the at least one main pole layer. The full-film metal planarization may include a bulk ion mill and/or ion beam scan.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a touchdown sensor for use in disk drive is described. The touchdown sensor includes a seed layer, a sensor layer on the seed layer, and a capping layer. The sensor layer includes NiFe. In some embodiments, at least one of the seed layer and the capping layer promote stability and performance of the sensor layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a HAMR head and a method for fabrication thereof. The HAMR head has a write head with a waveguide extending therethrough. A laser diode is coupled to a submount that is bonded to the write head using an adhesion layer, a solder structure, and a self-propagating multilayer alloying stack.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a magnetic writer pole for use in a hard drive. The magnetic writer pole comprises a first bevel formed by a non-magnetic layer, the first bevel formed at a first angle and extending to a first throat height. The magnetic writer pole further comprises a second bevel formed by the non-magnetic layer and extending distally from the first bevel at a second angle that is greater than the first angle and extending to a second throat height. The magnetic writer pole further comprises a third bevel formed by the non-magnetic layer and extending distally from the second bevel at a third angle that is greater than the second angle.

Abstract: Methods for providing magnetic storage elements with high magneto-resistance using Heusler alloys are provided. One such method includes depositing a substrate including NiFe, depositing a seed layer on the substrate, depositing a buffer layer on the seed layer, and growing, epitaxially, an upper layer on the buffer layer, the upper layer including a Heusler alloy.

Abstract: A method and system provide a magnetic transducer having an air-bearing surface (ABS). The magnetic transducer includes a main pole and at least one coil for energizing the main pole. The coil(s) have a number of turns. The magnetic transducer also includes at least one shunt coupled to at least one of the number of turns. At least one remaining turn of the number of turns carries a current. The shunt(s) carry a portion of the current from the shunted turn of the number of turns. Thus, the coil(s) have an effective number of turns is less than the number of turns.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for making read sensors using developable bottom anti-reflective coating and amorphous carbon (a-C) layers as junction milling masks. The methods described herein provide an excellent chemical mechanical polishing or planarization (CMP) stop, and improve control in reader critical physical parameters, shield to shield spacing (SSS) and free layer track width (FLTW).

Abstract: A magnetic head including a magnetoresistive junction and an oxide layer. The magnetoresistive junction includes a pinned layer, a free layer, and a barrier layer residing between the pinned and free layer. The magnetoresistive junction includes at least one side having a smooth profile. The oxide layer is on the at least one side. The oxide layer is less than one nanometer thick at the free layer.

Abstract: Damascene processes using physical vapor deposition (PVD) sputter carbon film as a chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) stop layer for forming a magnetic recording head are provided. In one embodiment, one such process includes providing an insulator, removing a portion of the insulator to form a trench within the insulator, depositing a carbon material on first portions of the insulator using a physical vapor deposition process, disposing at least one ferromagnetic material on second portions of the insulator to form a pole including a portion of the ferromagnetic material within the trench, and performing a chemical mechanical planarization on the at least one ferromagnetic material using at least a portion of the carbon material as a stop for the chemical mechanical planarization.

Abstract: A tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) read sensor having a tabbed AFM layer and an extended pinned layer and methods for making the same are provided. The TMR read sensor has an AFM layer recessed from the air bearing surface, providing a reduced shield-to-shield distance.