Abstract: A subwavelength aperture includes a plurality of ridges that project from an aperture sidewall into the aperture opening. The ridges may be closely spaced such that the hot spots associated with the ridges are likewise closely spaced and create an elongated hot spot. The subwavelength aperture of the present invention may be adapted for use in a magnetic head of a hard disk drive for improved thermally assisted recording (TAR) of magnetic data bits. Such a magnetic head may include an optical resonant cavity that is fabricated within the magnetic head structure.

Abstract: The media heating device of the magnetic head includes an optical resonant cavity produces a high intensity near-field optical beam of subwavelength dimension adjacent to the write pole. A suitable resonant cavity may be a spherical cavity, disk shaped cavity, ring shaped cavity, racetrack shaped cavity, micropillar cavity, photonic crystal cavity and Fabry-Perot cavity. The cavity is fabricated as a planar thin film structure in layers that are generally parallel to the magnetic pole thin film layers of the magnetic head, such that the principal axis of the resonant cavity is parallel to the air bearing surface (ABS). Optical energy is coupled into the resonant cavity through a waveguide that is placed proximate the cavity, and optical energy is coupled out of the cavity through an aperture that is placed within the cavity. A preferred embodiment may include a nano-aperture disposed between the resonant cavity and the ABS.

Abstract: A device according to one embodiment includes an electronic component such as an MR sensor, a pair of leads operatively coupled to the electronic component, and shorting material between the leads, the shorting material having been applied by a laser deposition process, the shorting material having been severed. A magnetic storage system according to another embodiment includes magnetic media; and at least one head for reading from and writing to the magnetic media, each head having: a sensor; and a writer coupled to the sensor. The system also includes a pair of pads or leads operatively coupled to the head; shorting material between the leads, the shorting material having been applied by a laser deposition process, the shorting material having been severed; a slider for supporting the head; and a control unit coupled to the head for controlling operation of the head.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a heat affected zone in at least one thin surface layer of metal of a component suitable for use in an HDD comprises: a radiation device for generating a first beam of pulsed laser radiation; an optical device for transmitting the first beam of pulsed laser radiation to the metal on the surface of the component; a first control system for determining the amount of the pulsed laser radiation required to produce a controlled heat affected zone in at least one thin surface layer of metal of the component; and a second control system for determining the location of the pulsed laser radiation on the surface of the component. The embodied apparatus does not require CW laser radiation in conjunction with the pulsed laser radiation to cause bi-directional angular deflection of a free end of the component.

Abstract: An optical recording head including a media heating device to write and read data to a heat sensitive optical media disk. The media heating device includes an optical energy resonant cavity that produces a high intensity near-field optical spot of subwavelength dimension. Optical energy is coupled into the resonant cavity through a waveguide that is placed proximate the cavity, and optical energy is coupled out of the cavity through an aperture that is placed proximate an antinode or post within the cavity. In reading data from the optical media, a photodetector is placed at the end of the waveguide. Optical energy emitted from the end of the waveguide is influenced by the reflectivity of the media data bit, and is interpreted as the data bit signal.

Abstract: A magnetic head including a media heating device including an optical cavity resonator that produces a high intensity near-field optical beam adjacent to the write pole. Optical energy is coupled into the resonant cavity through a waveguide that is placed proximate the cavity, and optical energy is coupled out of the cavity through an aperture that is placed proximate an antinode or post within the cavity. The write pole tip may serve as the post in certain embodiments. The media heating device is preferably fabricated between the first and second magnetic pole layers of a perpendicular magnetic head and close to the ABS surface of the head. An alternative embodiment may include a near field aperture disposed between the resonant cavity and the ABS.

Abstract: A method for shorting, unshorting, and reshorting an electronic component such as an MR sensor provides a repeatable ESD protection scheme. A conductive line of an electrically conductive first shorting material is created between electrical leads operatively coupled to an electronic component for creating a short therebetween. The short is severed using a laser. The short is recreated by applying a second shorting material, which may or may not be the same as the first shorting material.

Abstract: A heating device for a magnetic recording head includes first and second separating layers, the first separating layer having preferably a higher or equal thermal resistance than the first separating layer, and a heater formed between the first and second separating layers. A magnetic recording head for recording on magnetic medium includes a heating device which generates a heat spot on the magnetic medium which is larger than a magnetic track width, and/or heats a portion of the magnetic recording head which is on a leading edge side of a write gap in the magnetic recording head.

Abstract: Embodiments include a method for adjusting the twist, crown and camber of an air bearing surface a slider to substantially match final target values for twist, crown and camber, the slider having a back surface opposite the air bearing surface. The method includes the steps of measuring the twist, crown and camber of the at least one slider. A first group of twist scribes may be formed on the back surface. A first group of crown and camber scribes are formed on the back surface. The twist, crown and camber of the slider are measured and comparing to the final target values. Additional twist scribes may be formed if the final target value for twist is not reached or if the final target value is exceeded. Additional crown and camber scribes may be formed if the final target values for crown and camber are not obtained.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing very high crown and camber curvature in slider materials using a laser processing system which produces fluence which is variable in a controllable manner, by applying a laser beam to the flex side of the slider material and varying the fluence of the laser beam to optimize the curvature in the slider material. The fluence is variable by finely controlling the power output of the laser or by changing the spot size of the laser beam. The beam spot size can be changed by using a focusing lens to establish a focal plane and then varying the relative positions of the slider relative and the focal plane. An apparatus for producing high crown and camber is also disclosed, as well as a slider produced by the process of applying a laser beam to the flex side of the slider material and varying the fluence of the laser beam to optimize the curvature in the slider material.