Abstract: A method and system for fabricating a magnetic transducer are described. The magnetic transducer includes a pole and a nonmagnetic intermediate layer adjacent to the pole. The pole has a paddle and a pole tip including a plurality of sidewalls. The pole includes a first magnetic pole layer, at least one antiferromagnetic coupling (AFC) structure on the first magnetic pole layer, and a second magnetic pole layer on the AFC structure(s). At least a portion of the first magnetic pole layer resides on the sidewalls of the pole tip. The paddle has a paddle width in a track width direction. The pole tip has a pole tip width in a track width direction that is less than the paddle width.

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: A method and system provide a magnetic transducer having an air-bearing surface (ABS) and an intermediate layer. A trench having a shape and location corresponding to a main pole is formed in the intermediate layer. The main pole is provided. At least a portion of the main pole is in the trench. Providing the main pole further includes vacuum depositing a first main pole material layer. The first main pole material layer is thin enough to preclude filling of the trench. The first main pole material layer is then ion beam etched. A second main pole layer is vacuum deposited on the first main pole layer. The second main pole material layer is also thin enough to preclude filling of the trench. An additional main pole layer is also deposited.

Abstract: A magnetic recording transducer for use in a data storage device is described. The transducer has a main writer pole and magnetic shields adjacent to the main writer pole. The magnetic shields include a first plated soft ferromagnetic layer, a second plated soft ferromagnetic layer, and an antiferromagnetic coupling (AFC) trilayer between the first plated soft ferromagnetic layer and the second plated soft ferromagnetic layer. The AFC trilayer includes a first AFC layer of sputtered ferromagnetic material; a second AFC layer of a nonmagnetic antiferromagnetic exchange material, and a third AFC layer of sputtered ferromagnetic material. Shields with AFC trilayers in leading, side, and/or trailing shields, as well as between shields are provided. A method of fabricating is also provided.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording writer for use in a data storage device, the recording transducer has a magnetic writer pole, a pole tip facing an air bearing surface (ABS). The pole tip has a pole face, leading side wall, a trailing side wall, a first side wall and a second side wall. A trailing side wall nonmagnetic gap layer on the trailing side wall, a first side wall nonmagnetic gap layer deposited on the first side wall, and a second side wall nonmagnetic gap layer deposited on the second side wall. A high magnetic moment seed layer is deposited on the trailing side wall nonmagnetic gap layer, the first side wall nonmagnetic gap layer, and the second side wall nonmagnetic gap layer. In other aspects of the invention shields are provided that have magnetic moments less than the magnetic moment of the seed layers.

Abstract: A write head, the write head having an air bearing surface, the write head including a magnetic write pole, wherein at the air bearing surface, the write pole has a trailing surface, a leading surface that is opposite the trailing surface, and first and second surfaces; a trailing shield proximate the trailing surface of the magnetic write pole; first and second gaps proximate the first and second surfaces of the magnetic write pole; first and second side shields proximate the first and second gaps, each of the first and second side shields having a trailing shield surface; and first and second antiferromagnetic-coupling layers positioned between the trailing shield surfaces of the first and second side shields and the trailing shield.

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: 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: A write head, the write head having an air bearing surface, the write head including a magnetic write pole, wherein at the air bearing surface, the write pole has a trailing surface, a leading surface that is opposite the trailing surface, and first and second surfaces; a trailing shield proximate the trailing surface of the magnetic write pole; first and second gaps proximate the first and second surfaces of the magnetic write pole; first and second side shields proximate the first and second gaps, each of the first and second side shields having a trailing shield surface; and first and second antiferromagnetic-coupling layers positioned between the trailing shield surfaces of the first and second side shields and the trailing shield.

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: A method and system provide a touchdown sensor for use in disk drive. The touchdown sensor includes a sensor layer including a plurality of magnetic layers interleaved with at least one nonmagnetic layer. The plurality of magnetic layers are magnetically coupled and single domain. Further, the sensor has a temperature coefficient of resistivity (TCR) of at least 0.15%/° C.

Abstract: A write element including a pole tip shield is disclosed. In embodiments disclosed, for example, the pole tip shield includes side shield portions fabricated of a graded magnetic moment material to form graded side shield portions having a magnetic moment that decreases in the down-track direction along a length of the side shield portions. In another embodiment, the pole tip shield includes side shield portions having a shortened length extending along a partial length of side edges of the pole tip. In illustrated embodiments, the side shield portions are formed of a contoured body having an indented portion forward of the leading edge of the pole tip. The indented portion has a rounded indented surface contour forming a rounded profile for a gap region between a leading edge portion of the pole tip shield forward of the leading edge of the pole tip.

Abstract: A magnetic recording sensor for use in a data storage device is described. The sensor has a magnetoresistive sensing element and magnetic shields shielding the magnetoresistive sensing element. The magnetic shields include a first plated soft ferromagnetic layer, a second plated soft ferromagnetic layer, and an antiferromagnetic coupling (AFC) trilayer between the first plated soft ferromagnetic layer and the second plated soft ferromagnetic layer. The AFC trilayer includes a first AFC layer of sputtered ferromagnetic material; a second AFC layer of a nonmagnetic antiferromagnetic exchange material, and a third AFC layer of sputtered ferromagnetic material. Shields with AFC trilayers in bottom, side, and/or top shields, and well as between shields are provided. A method of fabricating is also provided.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording writer for use in a data storage device, the recording transducer has a magnetic writer pole, a pole tip facing an air bearing surface (ABS). The pole tip has a pole face, leading side wall, a trailing side wall, a first side wall and a second side wall. A trailing side wall nonmagnetic gap layer on the trailing side wall, a first side wall nonmagnetic gap layer deposited on the first side wall, and a second side wall nonmagnetic gap layer deposited on the second side wall. A high magnetic moment seed layer is deposited on the trailing side wall nonmagnetic gap layer, the first side wall nonmagnetic gap layer, and the second side wall nonmagnetic gap layer. In other aspects of the invention shields are provided that have magnetic moments less than the magnetic moment of the seed layers.

Abstract: A write element including a pole tip shield is disclosed. In embodiments disclosed, for example, the pole tip shield includes side shield portions fabricated of a graded magnetic moment material to form graded side shield portions having a magnetic moment that decreases in the down-track direction along a length of the side shield portions. In another embodiment, the pole tip shield includes side shield portions having a shortened length extending along a partial length of side edges of the pole tip. In illustrated embodiments, the side shield portions are formed of a contoured body having an indented portion forward of the leading edge of the pole tip. The indented portion has a rounded indented surface contour forming a rounded profile for a gap region between a leading edge portion of the pole tip shield forward of the leading edge of the pole tip.

Abstract: A write head, the write head having an air bearing surface, the write head including a magnetic write pole, wherein at the air bearing surface, the write pole has a trailing surface, a leading surface that is opposite the trailing surface, and first and second surfaces; a trailing shield proximate the trailing surface of the magnetic write pole; first and second gaps proximate the first and second surfaces of the magnetic write pole; first and second side shields proximate the first and second gaps, each of the first and second side shields having a trailing shield surface; and first and second antiferromagnetic-coupling layers positioned between the trailing shield surfaces of the first and second side shields and the trailing shield.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing perpendicular magnetic writers having gradient magnetic moment side shields are provided. In one case, the system includes a pole having a leading edge and trailing edge, a leading shield positioned closer to the leading edge than the trailing edge, the leading shield having a leading shield moment, a trailing shield positioned closer to the trailing edge than the leading edge, the trailing shield having a trailing shield moment greater than the leading shield moment, and a side shield positioned along side of the pole, the side shield including a gradient magnetic moment progressing from a first side shield moment to a second side shield moment, where the first side shield moment is about equal to the leading shield moment, and where the second side shield moment is about equal to the trailing shield moment and positioned closer to the trailing shield than the leading shield.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a magnetic read transducer is described. The magnetic recording transducer includes a write pole, a nonmagnetic gap, a magnetic seed layer, a trailing shield and coil(s) that energize the write pole. The write pole is configured to write to a media. The nonmagnetic gap is between the write pole and the magnetic seed layer. The magnetic seed layer includes a high moment layer and a magnetic buffer layer. The high moment layer is between the nonmagnetic gap and the magnetic buffer layer. The high moment layer has a saturation magnetization greater than 2.3 T and a first corrosion potential. The magnetic buffer layer has a second corrosion potential less than the first corrosion potential. The magnetic seed layer is between the trailing shield and the nonmagnetic gap layer. The magnetic buffer layer is between the trailing shield and the high moment layer.

Abstract: The application discloses a magnetic pole assembly having a pole tip arranged in a magnetic flux path and side shields separated from the pole tip by non-magnetic gap regions. The side shields are shaped to provide a differential shielding effect alongside the pole tip. As described, the sides shields are shaped to provide a non-magnetic gap region having a width that increases in the downtrack direction along a length of the pole tip. The increasing non-magnetic gap region alongside the pole tip provides a smaller non-magnetic gap region separating the pole tip from the side shields at the leading edge than the non-magnetic gap region separating the pole tip from the side shields at the trailing edge of the pole tip.

Abstract: A write head, the write head having an air bearing surface, the write head including a magnetic write pole, wherein at the air bearing surface, the write pole has a trailing surface, a leading surface that is opposite the trailing surface, and first and second surfaces; a trailing shield proximate the trailing surface of the magnetic write pole; first and second gaps proximate the first and second surfaces of the magnetic write pole; first and second side shields proximate the first and second gaps, each of the first and second side shields having a trailing shield surface; and first and second antiferromagnetic-coupling layers positioned between the trailing shield surfaces of the first and second side shields and the trailing shield.