Abstract: A method of forming a wrapped-around shielded perpendicular magnetic recording writer pole is disclosed. A structure comprising a leading shield layer and an intermediate layer disposed over the leading shield layer is provided, the intermediate layer comprising a pole material and a dielectric material. A trench is formed in the dielectric material. A non-magnetic layer in the trench is removed via an ion beam etching process. A seed layer is deposited in the trench and over the pole material. A magnetic material comprising a side shield layer is deposited on at least a portion of the seed layer.

Abstract: A method provides a magnetic transducer having an air-bearing surface (ABS) location. An intermediate layer having a substantially flat bottom surface is provided. A trench is formed in the intermediate layer. The trench is wider in yoke region than in the pole tip region. The trench has a first depth in the yoke region and a second depth less than the first depth in the pole tip region. A portion of the intermediate layer is at the bottom of the trench at the ABS location. A nonmagnetic layer is provided. The nonmagnetic layer fills part of the trench in the pole tip region such that the trench has a third depth less than the second depth at the ABS location. A main pole is provided. The main pole has a leading bevel adjacent to nonmagnetic layer in the portion of the pole tip region of the trench.

Abstract: A method and system provide a shingle magnetic write transducer. The transducer has an air-bearing surface (ABS) and includes a main pole and at least one coil. The coil(s) are configured to energize the main pole. The main pole includes a leading surface, a trailing surface, and a plurality of sides between the leading surface and the trailing surface. At least one of the plurality of sides form a sidewall angle with a down track direction. The sidewall angle is less than thirteen degrees and is at least zero degrees. In some aspects, the sidewall angle is less than a maximum skew angle for the data storage system.

Abstract: A magnetic read apparatus has an air-bearing surface (ABS) and includes a shield, a crystal decoupling structure on the shield and a read sensor on the crystal decoupling structure. The crystal decoupling structure includes at least one of a magnetic high crystalline temperature amorphous alloy layer and a combination of a high crystalline temperature amorphous layer and an amorphous magnetic layer. The high crystalline temperature amorphous layer has a crystalline temperature of at least three hundred degrees Celsius. The amorphous magnetic layer is amorphous as-deposited.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a waveguide with first and second sections, and a junction coupling the first and second waveguide sections together. The first waveguide section has a first reflective device and the second section comprising a second reflective device arranged to generate a standing wave in the waveguide with maximum energy wave intensity at a target region of the waveguide in response to an incident energy wave being provided into at least one of the waveguide sections.

Abstract: A magnetic write apparatus has a media-facing surface (MFS), a pole, a trailing shield, coil(s) and a write gap between the pole and trailing shield. The pole includes leading and trailing surfaces, a main portion having a first bevel and an additional portion having a second bevel and adjoining the main portion. The first bevel adjoins the MFS and is at a nonzero, acute first bevel angle from a direction perpendicular to the MFS. The second bevel is recessed from the MFS by not more than eighty nanometers, oriented at a second bevel angle from the direction and offset from the first bevel by a taper having a taper angle that is greater than the first bevel angle. The additional portion is at least ten nanometers and not more than sixty nanometers thick as measured from the first bevel.

Abstract: A main pole of a perpendicular magnetic recording write head is disclosed with a non-rectangular shape at the air bearing surface and a rectangular shape behind the air bearing surface. The main pole transitions from the non-rectangular shape to a rectangular shape at a distance of 10 nm to 100 nm behind the air bearing surface. The main pole includes leading and trailing beveled surfaces that extend from the non-rectangular shape of the pole at the air bearing surface toward the rectangular shape transition.

Abstract: A method and apparatus attach a laser diode on a submount to a slider. The submount and laser diode form a submount assembly. The slider includes an air-bearing surface (ABS) and a transducer. The apparatus includes an optical fiber and a holder. The optical fiber is configured to carry a laser pulse. The holder includes a vacuum channel and an optical fiber aperture therein. A portion of the optical fiber is held in the optical fiber aperture. The vacuum channel is configured to hold the submount assembly by a pressure differential between a pressure developed in the vacuum channel and an external pressure at a remaining portion of the submount assembly. The pressure in the vacuum channel is less than the external pressure. The method holds the submount assembly in the apparatus, aligns the submount assembly to the slider and provides a laser pulse through the fiber.

Abstract: A magnetic read apparatus has an air-bearing surface (ABS) and includes a differential read sensor, side bias structure(s) and rear magnetic bias structure(s). The differential read sensor includes first and second free layers and a nonmagnetic spacer layer between the first and second free layers in a down-track direction. The side bias structure(s) are adjacent to the first and second free layers in a cross-track direction perpendicular to the down-track direction. The side bias structure(s) magnetically bias the first and second free layers in the cross-track direction. The differential read sensor is between the ABS and the rear magnetic bias structure(s). The rear magnetic bias structure(s) provide a first magnetic bias for the first free layer in a first direction along a stripe height direction perpendicular to the ABS and provide a second magnetic bias for the second free layer in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

Abstract: A heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) writer is described. The HAMR writer is coupled with a laser and has an air-bearing surface (ABS) that resides near a media during use. The HAMR writer includes a waveguide, a near-field transducer (NFT), a main pole, coil(s) and at least one of a first and a second diffusion barrier layer. The waveguide is optically coupled with the laser and directs energy from the laser toward the ABS. The NFT is optically coupled with the waveguide and focuses the energy onto a region of the media. The main pole writes to the region of the media. The main pole has a top, a bottom, and a plurality of sides. The first diffusion barrier layer is between at least the NFT and the bottom of the pole. The second diffusion barrier layer is adjacent to the plurality of sides of the main pole.

Abstract: A magnetic read apparatus has an air-bearing surface (ABS) and includes a read sensor and a rear magnetic bias structure. The read sensor includes first and second free layers, a spacer layer and a rear surface opposite to the ABS. The spacer layer is nonmagnetic and between the first and second free layers. The read sensor has a track width in a cross track direction parallel to the ABS. The rear magnetic bias structure magnetically biases the read sensor a stripe height direction perpendicular to the ABS. The read sensor is between the ABS and the rear magnetic bias structure. The rear magnetic bias structure has a width in the cross track direction and a length in the stripe height direction. The length is greater than the width. The width of the rear magnetic bias structure is substantially equal to the track width of the read sensor.

Abstract: Systems and methods for using NFT disc test structures for controlling NFT disc length during manufacture of an HAMR writer are disclosed. An NFT is manufactured concurrently with one or more pairs of pin-disc and disc-less test structures. The NFT disc and pin dimensions may be substantially similar to the pin and disc dimensions of the pin-disc test structure. The disc length of the pin-disc test structure is measured as a function of the difference in resistance between the two test structures and other parameters. Capturing the disc length variation subsequently enables adjustment of the NFT electronic lapping guide stripe height to reduce length variation in the NFT pin.

Abstract: A method and system provide a magnetic transducer. The transducer includes a main pole, a side gap, at least one coil, a side shield and at least one of a leading shield, a trailing shield and a return pole. The coil(s) are configured to energize the main pole. The side gap is between the main pole and the side shield. The main pole is between the leading shield and the trailing shield. The trailing shield is between the main pole and the return pole. The side shield is between the leading shield and the trailing shield. At least one of the leading shield, the trailing shield and the return pole have a gradient in saturation magnetization such that the saturation magnetization varies in a down track direction.

Abstract: A method of making a magnetic head is provided. The method includes forming a first read sensor and a first electrical contact formed with a first shunt region. The method further includes forming a first mid-shield layer on the first read sensor, the first mid-shield layer being electrically connected to the first electrical contact. Additionally the method also includes forming a second mid-shield layer over the first mid-shield layer. Further, the method also includes forming a second read sensor over the second mid-shield layer, the second read sensor having a second electrical contact formed with a second shunt region electrically connected to the first shunt region.

Abstract: A magnetic recording transducer comprises a magnetoresistive sensor having a left side, a right side opposite to the left side, a left junction angle at the left side, a right junction angle at the right side, and a track width. The right junction angle and the left junction angle are characterized by a junction angle difference of not more than six degrees. The track width is less than one hundred nanometers. The magnetic recording transducer further comprises a left hard bias structure residing adjacent to the left side of the magnetoresistive sensor, and a right hard bias structure residing adjacent to the right side of the magnetoresistive sensor.

Abstract: A method provides 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 at least one pinned layer aligned with a sensor pinning direction. Providing the second shield includes depositing at least one of a first ferromagnetic layer, a second ferromagnetic and a pinning layer in the presence of a first magnetic field in a first direction non-orthogonal and non-parallel to the sensor pinning direction. A nonmagnetic spacer layer is between the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer. The pinning layer is adjacent to the second ferromagnetic layer. The first ferromagnetic layer is between the read sensor and the nonmagnetic spacer layer. The first ferromagnetic layer is coupled antiparallel with the second ferromagnetic layer.

Abstract: A method and system provide a magnetic transducer including first and second read sensors, a shield and a conductive via. The shield is between the first and second read sensors. The magnetic transducer also includes first and second read shields. The shield has a top surface and a bottom surface opposite to the top surface. The bottom surface faces the first read sensor. The conductive via is isolated from the first read shield and the second read shield. The conductive via provides electrical contact to the shield and is electrically connected to the bottom surface of the shield.

Abstract: A slider for a hard disk includes a leading structure having a first air bearing surface portion, a trailing structure having a second air bearing surface portion, and a cavity between the leading structure and the trailing structure. The leading structure has one or more interior walls defining a pit therein. A hard disk drive includes a rotatable magnetic recording disk and the slider.

Abstract: A method and system provide a magnetic transducer including a first shield, a plurality of read sensors, and a second shield. The read sensors are between the first shield and the second shield. The read sensors have a plurality of widths in a track width direction and are separated by at least one distance in a down track direction. The down track direction is perpendicular to the track width direction.

Abstract: A method provides a magnetic device having an air-bearing surface (ABS) location. A layer including first and second sublayers is provided. The first sublayer includes the ABS location. The second sublayer recessed from the ABS location such that part of the first sublayer is between the second sublayer and the ABS location. The first sublayer has a rear surface oriented at a nonzero, acute angle from a surface perpendicular to the ABS location. A trench is formed in the layer. The trench has a bottom, a top and sidewalls. The sidewalls form a first angle with a direction perpendicular to the bottom at the ABS location. The sidewalls form a second angle with the direction in part of the second sublayer. The second angle is smaller than the first angle. The sidewall angle varies along the rear surface of the first sublayer. A main pole is provided in the trench.