Abstract: A write head includes a near-field transducer near a media-facing surface of the write head. The write head includes a waveguide having a core with a first side disposed proximate to the near-field transducer. The core overlaps the near-field transducer at a substrate-parallel plane. The core includes one of a step or a taper on a second side facing away from the first side. The step or the taper causes a reduced thickness of the core normal to the substrate-parallel plane. The write head includes a cladding layer that encompassing the second side of the core and that fills in the step or the taper.

Abstract: Systems that include an energy source configured to provide transverse electric (TE) mode energy; a channel waveguide configured to receive energy from the energy source, the channel waveguide having at least one mirror plane; and a near field transducer (NFT) configured to receive energy from the channel waveguide, the NFT having at least one mirror plane.

Abstract: A write head includes a near-field transducer near a media-facing surface of the write head. The write head includes a waveguide having a core with a first side disposed proximate to the near-field transducer. The core overlaps the near-field transducer at a substrate-parallel plane. The core includes one of a step or a taper on a second side facing away from the first side. The step or the taper causes a reduced thickness of the core normal to the substrate-parallel plane. The write head includes a cladding layer that encompassing the second side of the core and that fills in the step or the taper.

Abstract: Systems that include an energy source configured to provide transverse electric (TE) mode energy; a channel waveguide configured to receive energy from the energy source, the channel waveguide having at least one mirror plane; and a near field transducer (NFT) configured to receive energy from the channel waveguide, the NFT having at least one mirror plane.

Abstract: A planar collimator has first and second sections each intersecting at a junction between a first axis and a second axis normal to the first axis. Each of the first and second sections have geometries configured to receive light from a source point located on the first axis and collimate the light at respective positive and negative tilting angles relative to the second axis. The first and second sections direct the collimated light to respective first and second sides of a focusing mirror and away from a gap between the first and second sides of the focusing mirror.

Abstract: Systems that include an energy source configured to provide transverse electric (TE) mode energy; a channel waveguide configured to receive energy from the energy source, the channel waveguide having at least one mirror plane; and a near field transducer (NFT) configured to receive energy from the channel waveguide, the NFT having at least one mirror plane.

Abstract: A planar collimator has first and second sections each intersecting at a junction between a first axis and a second axis normal to the first axis. Each of the first and second sections have geometries configured to receive light from a source point located on the first axis and collimate the light at respective positive and negative tilting angles relative to the second axis. The first and second sections direct the collimated light to respective first and second sides of a focusing mirror and away from a gap between the first and second sides of the focusing mirror.

Abstract: A writer for perpendicular recording on bilayer media with suppressed skew angle effect on the width of the recorded track is disclosed. The writer has a wide and flat trailing edge and a narrow leading edge. In a preferred embodiment, the pole has a trapezoidal cross-section. To suppress the skew effect on the width of the recorded track, the slope angle of the pole sides may be greater than the maximum skew angle in a drive.