Abstract: A magnetic slider for magnetic data recording constructed by a process that allows for careful control of seed layer and overcoat thickness. The slider is treated by a process that result in surface pits and scratches. A refill layer is used to fill in the pits and scratches, the refill layer being constructed of a material that does not include Si or carbon. An angled ion beam etching can be used to remove portions of the refill layer that extend outside of the pits and scratches. Then, a seed layer comprising Si and a protective layer comprising C are deposited over the surface. Because the refill layer does not contain either of Si or C, the thickness of the seed layer and carbon overcoat can be acurately measured and controlled, without the refill layer being mistaken for seed or overcoat material.

Abstract: A magnetic slider for magnetic data recording constructed by a process that allows for careful control of seed layer and overcoat thickness. The slider is treated by a process that result in surface pits and scratches. A refill layer is used to fill in the pits and scratches, the refill layer being constructed of a material that does not include Si or carbon. An angled ion beam etching can be used to remove portions of the refill layer that extend outside of the pits and scratches. Then, a seed layer comprising Si and a protective layer comprising C are deposited over the surface. Because the refill layer does not contain either of Si or C, the thickness of the seed layer and carbon overcoat can be accurately measured and controlled, without the refill layer being mistaken for seed or overcoat material.

Abstract: An assembly, apparatus and method for fabricating a structural element of a hard disk drive air bearing. The method and apparatus provide an improved protective layer, an improved structural element consisting of a single layer of structural material, and a method consisting of applying the improved protective layer, applying a uniform layer of structural material, applying a resist layer, etching the structural material layer, and removing the resist layer.

Abstract: A hard disk drive slider comprises an overcoat layer, which covers an air-bearing surface of the slider. The overcoat covers an exposed surface of a tunneling magnetoresistance transducer. An adhesion layer is coupled with the overcoat layer and the air-bearing surface. The adhesion layer comprises a compound of nitrogen. The compound of nitrogen reduces noise in read data from the tunneling magnetoresistance transducer.

Abstract: A hard disk drive slider comprises an overcoat layer, which covers an air-bearing surface of the slider. The overcoat covers an exposed surface of a tunneling magnetoresistance transducer. An adhesion layer is coupled with the overcoat layer and the air-bearing surface. The adhesion layer comprises a compound of nitrogen. The compound of nitrogen reduces noise in read data from the tunneling magnetoresistance transducer.

Abstract: A method of forming a pole tip topography associated with an air bearing surface (ABS) of a hard disk drive slider is disclosed. The method etches an exposed pole tip region of an ABS at a first angle with respect to the ABS to remove an irregularity from the exposed pole tip region and to flatten the exposed pole tip region. The exposed pole tip region lacks a photo-resist layer. The method also includes etching the flattened exposed pole tip region of the ABS at a second angle with respect to the ABS to form a recession with reference to the ABS.

Abstract: Modified strain regions are created in correlation to strain reactive structures that are subjected to a predetermined dimensional precision adjustment. The modified strain regions are created by impacting incident particles into exposed regions of the strain reactive structures. The irradiation by the incident particles creates a predetermined material disruption and consequently a change in strain energy. The strain energy, and the associated dimensional adjustment is dependent on the irradiation process and the sum properties of the modified strain regions and the strain reactive structure.

Abstract: A hard disk drive slider comprises an overcoat layer, which covers an air-bearing surface of the slider. The overcoat covers an exposed surface of a tunneling magnetoresistance transducer. An adhesion layer is coupled with the overcoat layer and the air-bearing surface. The adhesion layer comprises a compound of nitrogen. The compound of nitrogen reduces noise in read data from the tunneling magnetoresistance transducer.

Abstract: A hard disk drive slider comprises a tunneling magnetoresistance transducer, which comprises an insulator barrier. A nitrogen atom from a nitrogen atmosphere occupies an oxygen atom vacancy within the insulator barrier, such that noise in read data from the tunneling magnetoresistance transducer is reduced.

Abstract: A slider assembly used in a direct access storage device includes electrically conductive bond pads formed on the slider body. A rigid and electrically non-conductive material surrounds and abuts the bond pads. The material and the bond pads form a planar surface. The material prevents the bond pads from migrating and shorting, so that the bond pads can be placed closer together.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention pertain to forming a head with reduced pole tip recession. According to one embodiment, a pole tip element is formed from a platinum containing material. During diamond like carbon (DLC) processing, hydrogen and hydrogen containing compounds are removed from a vacuum plasma processing environment that contains the head so that an amount of material that is removed from the pole tip element and other non-platinum containing elements associated with the head are approximately the same.

Abstract: Modified strain regions are created in correlation to strain reactive structures that are subjected to a predetermined dimensional precision adjustment. The modified strain regions are created by impacting incident particles into exposed regions of the strain reactive structures. The irradiation by the incident particles creates a predetermined material disruption and consequently a change in strain energy. The strain energy, and the associated dimensional adjustment is dependent on the irradiation process and the sum properties of the modified strain regions and the strain reactive structure.

Abstract: At least one modified strain region having a damage depth between 0.1 and 2 microns in a disk drive slider is created by implantation with ions, electrons or neutral atoms. The modified strain region induces a deformation of the disk drive slider. The nature and extent of this deformation is determined by the interaction between the slider and the modified strain region.