Abstract: A heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) write apparatus has a media-facing surface (MFS) and is coupled with a laser that provides energy. The HAMR write apparatus includes a waveguide, a near-field transducer (NFT), a pole and coil(s) for energizing the pole. The waveguide is optically coupled with the laser and directs a first portion of the energy toward the MFS. The NFT is optically coupled with the waveguide. The pole writes to a region of the media and includes a pole tip. A first portion of the pole tip is at the MFS and is separated from the NFT in a down track direction. A second portion of the pole tip is recessed from the MFS and between the first portion and the NFT.

Abstract: A method detects hot spots from overlay error data for photolithography defined device(s). The overlay error data corresponds to data for sites on a substrate for the photolithography defined device(s). The overlay error data is converted to residual overlay data, which indicates a residual overlay error for each of the sites. The residual overlay error is based on an expected overlay error for each of the sites. It is determined whether group(s) of overlay error sites are present. Each group includes at least two nearest neighbor sites that have the residual overlay error greater than a threshold. For each group of overlay error sites, it is determined whether the group fits a physical model, such as the derivative of a Gaussian, for a hotspot. Each group fitting the physical model is categorized as a hotspot. Hotspot parameters are determined for each group that fits the physical model.

Abstract: A method provides a magnetic transducer having a media-facing surface (MFS). The method includes providing a pole, providing a side gap, providing coil(s) for energizing the pole and providing side shield(s). A portion of the pole resides at the MFS. The side gap is between the pole and the side shield(s). The side shield(s) have a gradient in a saturation magnetization such that the saturation magnetization increases in a yoke direction perpendicular to the MFS. The step of providing the side shield(s) further includes providing a nonmagnetic structure having a side surface parallel to the MFS and providing at least one side shield layer. A portion of the side shield layer(s) are on the side surface. The portion of the side shield layer(s) has the gradient in the saturation magnetization. At least part of the side shield being formed by the portion of the side shield layer(s).

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 method for providing a storage device that includes a plurality of read sensor stacks for each reader of the storage device. The plurality of 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 magnetic read apparatus has a media-facing surface (MFS) and includes a read sensor, a magnetic bias structure and an insulating layer. The read sensor has a side, a front occupying part of the MFS and a back. The read sensor includes a free layer, a pinned layer and a barrier layer between the free and pinned layers. The barrier layer has a barrier layer coefficient of thermal expansion. The magnetic bias structure is adjacent to the side of the free layer. The insulating layer includes first and second portions. The first portion of the insulating layer is between the read sensor side and the magnetic bias structure. The second portion of the insulating layer adjoins the read sensor back. The insulating layer has an insulating layer coefficient of thermal expansion that is at least ? of and not more than 5/3 of the barrier layer coefficient of thermal expansion.

Abstract: A method provides magnetic write apparatus. A side shield location layer having a location corresponding to the side shield(s) and back and side surfaces is provided. Part of the back surface corresponds to the back surface of the side shield. A nonmagnetic layer adjoining the back and side surface(s) of the side shield location layer is provided. A pole trench is formed in the layers using a first etch process. The nonmagnetic and side shield location layers have an etch selectivity of at least 0.9 and not more than 1.1 for the first etch. A pole is provided in the pole trench. A remaining portion of the side shield location layer is removed using a wet etch. The nonmagnetic layer is nonremovable by the wet etch. Side shield(s) having a back surface substantially the same as the back surface of the side shield location layer are provided.

Abstract: A spin transfer torque magnetic junction includes a magnetic reference layer structure with magnetic anisotropy perpendicular to a substrate plane. A laminated magnetic free layer comprises at least three sublayers (e.g. sub-layers of CoFeB, CoPt, FePt, or CoPd) having magnetic anisotropy perpendicular to the substrate plane. Each such sublayer is separated from an adjacent one by a dusting layer (e.g. tantalum). An insulative barrier layer (e.g. MgO) is disposed between the laminated free layer and the magnetic reference layer structure. The spin transfer torque magnetic junction includes conductive base and top electrodes, and a current polarizing structure that has magnetic anisotropy parallel to the substrate plane. In certain embodiments, the current polarizing structure may also include a non-magnetic spacer layer (e.g. MgO, copper, etc).

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 chip-to-chip eutectic bonding system includes a stage with a top surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of vacuum apertures extending therebetween and a carrier with a top surface, the top surface including one or more smooth surface portions and one or more rough surface portions, wherein at least one smooth carrier surface portion laterally aligns to at least one vacuum aperture, and at least one of the stage's rough surface portions frictionally couples to at least one of the carrier's rough surface portions when the carrier top surface couples to and opposes the stage bottom surface.

Abstract: Micrometer scale components comprise a component body comprising an alloy of a first solder metal and a second solder metal, the alloy having a higher liquidus temperature than the second solder metal; and a base region of the structure body wetted to a substrate, wherein the component body has a molded surface profile.

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 head includes a slider defining an air bearing surface (ABS) and having a trailing face approximately orthogonal to the ABS. A transducer is disposed on the trailing face and includes a reader and a writer. The writer comprises a non-ferromagnetic writer encapsulate material, and includes a ferromagnetic write pole embedded in the non-ferromagnetic writer encapsulate material. The reader comprises a non-ferromagnetic reader encapsulate material, and includes a magnetoresistive sensor stack embedded in the non-ferromagnetic reader encapsulate material. The magnetic head further includes a novel dual overcoat having a writer overcoat material disposed on the writer, and a reader overcoat material disposed on the reader. The reader overcoat material comprises diamond-like carbon (DLC), and the writer overcoat material does not comprise DLC. An example method for fabricating the novel dual overcoat is also disclosed.

Abstract: A heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) write apparatus is described. The HAMR write apparatus is coupled with a laser that provides energy. The HAMR writer has a media-facing surface (MFS) and a laser-facing surface. The HAMR write apparatus includes a free-standing reflector and at least one waveguide. The free-standing reflector resides on the laser-facing surface and has a concave reflective surface oriented to receive the energy from the laser. The waveguide(s) are optically coupled with the free-standing reflector and direct energy from the laser toward the MFS.

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 shingle magnetic write apparatus is described. The shingle magnetic write apparatus includes a pole, a side gap, a write gap, a top shield and side shield(s). The pole has a pole tip region including a top wider than a bottom, and sides. The sides are at a sidewall angle from a down track direction. The write gap is adjacent to the pole top and between the top shield and the pole top. The side shield(s) are magnetically connected with the top shield and extend past the bottom of the pole. The side gap is between the side shield(s) and the pole. The side shield(s) have pole-facing surface(s) not more than a side shield angle from the down track direction. The side shield angle is less than the sidewall angle. The side gap width increases from the top near the gap to the bottom near the bottom of the pole.

Abstract: A magnetic write apparatus has a media-facing surface (MFS) and includes a main pole, an auxiliary pole, a magnetic separation layer and coil(s). The auxiliary pole is adjacent to the main pole and has an auxiliary pole front surface recessed from the MFS by a first distance. The first distance is nonzero. The magnetic separation layer has a front surface facing the MFS and a back surface opposite to the front surface. The back surface is closer to the MFS than the first distance. The front surface is recessed from the MFS by a second distance that is nonzero. The coil(s) energize the main pole.

Abstract: A method and system provide a magnetic read apparatus. The magnetic read apparatus includes a substrate and an isolation circuit. The isolation circuit includes a bias resistor and a capacitor residing on the substrate. The bias resistor and the capacitor are connected in parallel through the substrate.

Abstract: A magnetic write apparatus has a media-facing surface (MFS), a pole, side shield(s), a side gap and coil(s) for energizing the pole. The pole includes main and assist portions. The main portion is ferromagnetic, includes a pole tip and includes side surface(s) having a flare angle from the MFS. The pole tip occupies a portion of the MFS. The flare angle is nonzero and acute. The assist portion adjoins the main portion, extends from the main portion in a direction having a component in a cross-track direction, and has a depth of not more than three hundred nanometers. The side shield(s) occupy another portion of the MFS, have a back surface, and are between the assist portion and the MFS. The assist portion is conformal with the back surface of the side shield(s). The side gap is between the main portion of the pole and the side shield(s).

Abstract: A method provides a magnetic write apparatus on a substrate. A mask is provided on a substrate. The mask has a trench therein. The trench has a top, a bottom and a plurality of sidewalls extending between the top and the bottom of the trench. The top of the trench is wider than the bottom. A protective layer is provided in the trench. The protective layer extends from the top of the trench along a first portion of the plurality of sidewalls such that the bottom of the trench and a second portion of the plurality of sidewalls are free of the protective layer. The structure is provided in a remaining portion of the trench.