Abstract: A method and system provide a magnetic head having an air-bearing surface (ABS). The magnetic head includes a read transducer and a write transducer. The read transducer includes a first shield and a read sensor. The write transducer includes a main pole, at least one coil for energizing the main pole and a return pole between the read sensor and the main pole. The return pole includes an antiparallel coupling (AC) pole structure. The AC pole structure includes a plurality of ferromagnetic layers interleaved with at least one nonmagnetic layer. The ferromagnetic layers and the nonmagnetic spacer layer(s) are substantially parallel. The ferromagnetic layers and the nonmagnetic spacer layer(s) are substantially perpendicular to the ABS. The magnetic moment of each of the ferromagnetic layers is aligned antiparallel with the magnetic moment of a nearest neighbor of the ferromagnetic layers.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a magnetic recording transducer is described. The method includes providing a pinned layer for a magnetic element. The portion of the magnetic transducer including the pinned layer is transferred to a high vacuum annealing apparatus before annealing the magnetic transducer. The portion of the magnetic recording transducer is annealed in the high vacuum annealing apparatus. A tunneling barrier is provided after the step of annealing the part of the magnetic recording transducer. A free layer for the magnetic element is also provided.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor includes first and second ferromagnetic free layers that are not magnetically pinned, and a non-magnetic spacer layer disposed between them. The first ferromagnetic free layer comprises a first plurality of ferromagnetic sub-layers that includes a first cobalt iron sub-layer that is in contact with the non-magnetic spacer layer, and a first amorphous cobalt boron sub-layer that is not in contact with the non-magnetic spacer layer. The second ferromagnetic free layer comprises a second plurality of ferromagnetic sub-layers that includes a second cobalt iron sub-layer that is in contact with the non-magnetic spacer layer, and a second amorphous cobalt boron sub-layer that is not in contact with the non-magnetic spacer layer. Each of the first and second cobalt iron sub-layers has a composition Co(100?x)Fe(x) with x being in the range of 10 to 90 atomic percentage.

Abstract: System and methods are provided for the manufacture of a magnetic write head including a pole and yoke region, and a nose shape transition region connecting the yoke to the pole having very small minimum radius of curvature, providing for a sharp transition. A double mask technique is used providing for the adjustment of an offset and illumination conditions between the first and second mask, which provides the capability of tuning the shape of the transition region, and achieving features that would otherwise not be achievable due to distortions caused by optical proximity effect.

Abstract: A method comprises providing a magnetic element including a free layer, a pinned layer, a nonmagnetic spacer layer between the free and pinned layers, and a pinning layer adjacent the pinned layer. The free layer is biased in a first direction. The pinned layer has a first layer having a first magnetization, a second layer having a second magnetization, and a nonmagnetic layer between the first and second layer. The first magnetization is pinned parallel to a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction and substantially perpendicular to the ABS. The second magnetization is antiparallel to the second direction. The pinning layer is oriented along the second direction. The method further comprises providing a hard bias structure having a hard bias magnetization, initializing the hard bias magnetization along the second direction, performing at least one thermal treatment, and resetting the hard bias magnetization substantially along the first direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for energy assisted magnetic recording of a storage disk include a plurality of dielectric waveguide cores configured to direct received incident light energy to a target, and a near field transducer (NFT) configured to focus light energy received from the plurality of waveguide cores and to transmit the focused light energy onto the storage disk surface to generate a heating spot on the storage disk. The NFT includes a plurality of propagating surface plasmon polariton (PSPP) elements that are energized by the light energy from the waveguide cores. Each of the PSPP elements has a plasmonic metal bar disposed above a single waveguide core in a longitudinal alignment. Each metal bar has a width at least twice the width of the heating spot generated on the storage disk.

Abstract: A heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) transducer on a slider and including first and second opposing surfaces, wherein the first surface is aligned to an air bearing surface (ABS) of the slider and the second surface is aligned to a surface of the slider opposite the ABS, a target waveguide having an entrance at the second surface, the target waveguide being configured to direct energy provided by a light source from the entrance toward the first surface, wherein the target waveguide expands in cross-section area with distance from the entrance to form an inverse taper waveguide, a plurality of assistant waveguides each having an entrance at the second surface, wherein the plurality of assistant waveguides are configured to direct energy to the plurality of output devices.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing micrometer scale components comprises depositing a first metal on a substrate, depositing a second metal in a mold, and alloying the first and second metals together to form the component.

Abstract: A method and system provide a magnetic transducer having an air-bearing surface (ABS) location, a pole and a gap. The pole has a bottom and a top wider than the bottom. The gap is on the top of the pole and at least as wide as the top of the pole such that an overhang is formed between a top edge of the gap and a bottom edge of the bottom of the pole. The method includes providing a plurality of bottom antireflective coatings (BARCs). The plurality of BARCs form a BARC layer that fills the overhang. A shield photoresist mask is provided on at least a portion of the BARC layer. The shield, which includes at least one side shield, is provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods for suppressing the background energy of a waveguide in an EAMR system are provided. One such system includes a near field transducer having a disk section and a pin section extending from the disk section to an air bearing surface of a slider, a waveguide having a core and a cladding, where the waveguide is configured to couple light energy to the near field transducer, where the cladding is configured to substantially surround the core, and a recess portion positioned between the core and the air bearing surface.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) head is disclosed. The PMR head includes a perpendicular magnetic recording pole having at least one side, a bottom and a top wider than the bottom. The PMR head also includes at least one side gap, at least one side shield, a to gap on the PMR pole and a top shield. The side gap(s) encapsulate the side(s) of the PMR pole, has at least one width and is between the PMR pole and the side shield(s). The to gap has a thickness such that the ratio of the width(s) to the thickness is greater than one. A portion of the top gap is between at least part of the top shield and the side shield(s).

Abstract: A motion sensing transducer includes an electrically conductive substrate having a major surface that defines a substrate plane, and a first compliant structure including a piezoelectric material and having greater compliance to inertial forces oriented out of the substrate plane than to inertial forces oriented in the substrate plane. The first compliant structure includes a piezoelectric material. The motion sensing transducer includes a second compliant structure having greater compliance to inertial forces oriented in the substrate plane than to inertial forces oriented out of the substrate plane. The second compliant structure includes a first surface that is electrically isolated from the substrate. The first surface faces a surface of the substrate. The motion sensing transducer includes a first electrically conductive lead that is electrically connected to the first surface, and a second electrically conductive lead that is electrically connected to the piezoelectric material.

Abstract: Innovative techniques are disclosed for fabricating microelectronic devices using an alternating phase shift mask. Some embodiments of the invention encompass a double exposure technique that utilize high resolution line patterning such that two opaque lines intersect at an angle. After development, substantially circular images may be formed. In certain embodiments, high resolution disk imaging as small as 60 nm is possible.

Abstract: A slider comprises a slider trailing edge; a lubricant blocker having a disk facing surface and a lubricant blocker trailing edge, the lubricant blocker trailing edge having a lateral end trailing a central end; and a lubricant guiding channel recessed from the disk facing surface and extending from the slider trailing edge to the lubricant blocker trailing edge.

Abstract: A method for providing a magnetic recording transducer is provided. The method includes providing a substrate, and a magnetic shield having a top surface above the substrate. The top surface is treated by a first plasma treatment performed at a first power. An amorphous ferromagnetic (FM) layer is deposited on and in contact with the top surface to a thickness of at least 5 Angstroms and not more than 50 Angstroms. A second plasma treatment is performed at a second power. A magnetic seed layer is provided on and contact with the amorphous FM layer. The magnetic seed layer may comprise a bilayer. A nonmagnetic spacer layer is provided above the magnetic seed layer, an antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer provided above the spacer layer, and a read sensor provided above the AFM layer.

Abstract: A disk recording device is disclosed comprising a disk and a head. A first plurality of reference bursts are written along a first radius of the disk, the first plurality of reference bursts comprising a first reference burst. A second plurality of reference bursts are written along a second radius of the disk circumferentially offset from the first radius, the second plurality of reference bursts comprising a second reference burst. A first segment of a reference band is written along a third radius of the disk circumferentially offset from the second radius, and at a first timing offset from the first reference burst. A second timing offset between the first reference burst and the second reference burst is measured, and a second segment of the reference band is written radially coherent with the first segment based on the first timing offset and the second timing offset.

Abstract: A method and system provide a magnetic transducer having an air-bearing surface (ABS) location. An intermediate is provided. The intermediate layer includes a first sublayer and a second sublayer in at least a side shield region. The first sublayer has a first sublayer top. The second sublayer is on the first sublayer top in the shield region. A trench is formed in the intermediate layer using at least one etch. A main pole is provided in the trench. The main pole has a bottom and a top wider than the bottom. The first sublayer top is between the top and the bottom of the main pole. At least a portion of the second sublayer is removed in the shield region. At least one half side shield is provided. A bottom of the at least one half side shield being between the top and the bottom of the main pole.

Abstract: A data storage device comprising a transducer that includes a sensor array comprising multiple read sensors in a down track direction. A first pair of sensors in the sensor array reads data from a track, and at least one read sensor reads noise from an adjacent track.

Abstract: A magnetic transducer having an air-bearing surface is described. The magnetic transducer includes a nonmagnetic layer on an underlayer, a pole having a plurality of sidewalls, a gap layer on the sidewalls, a seed layer and at least one side shield. The nonmagnetic layer has an aperture therein. The aperture is free of magnetic inclusions at the ABS. The pole is on the underlayer and within the aperture. The seed layer is for the side shield(s) and resides on the gap layer, a portion of the underlayer and a portion of the nonmagnetic layer. The side shield(s) residing on the seed layer and in the aperture. The side shield(s) are free of undercuts at the ABS.

Abstract: A method fabricates a magnetic transducer having a nonmagnetic layer and an ABS location corresponding to an ABS. A pole trench is provided in the nonmagnetic layer. The pole trench has a pole tip region and a yoke region. At least one pole material is provided. The pole material(s) have an external protrusion that is above and external to the pole trench. A hard mask that covers at least the external protrusion is provided. A portion of the nonmagnetic layer adjacent to the pole trench is removed to form a side shield trench. At least one side shield material is provided. A portion of the side shield material(s) are adjacent to the hard mask and fill at least a portion of the side shield trench. The side shield material(s) and the pole material(s) are planarized to form at least one side shield and a main pole.