Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes masking a sensor stack with a first mask, milling exposed regions of the sensor stack for defining a back edge of the sensor stack, forming a tantalum oxide layer along the back edge, removing the first mask, masking the sensor stack with a second mask, and milling exposed regions of the sensor stack for defining side edges of the sensor stack, a width of the sensor stack in a track width direction being defined between the side edges. In another embodiment a system includes a sensor stack of thin films having a back edge, and a tantalum oxide layer extending along the back edge.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a HAMR device having two temperature sensors disposed between a near field transducer (NFT) and a return pole. The two temperature sensors are aligned in a cross-track direction.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a magnetic read sensor at very narrow track widths. The method uses an amorphous carbon mask layer to pattern the sensor by ion milling, rather than a mask constructed of a material such as photoresist or DURIMIDE® which can bend over during ion milling at very narrow track widths. By using the amorphous carbon layer as the masking layer, the trackwidth can be very small, while avoiding this bending over of the mask that has been experienced with prior art methods. In addition, the track-width can be further reduced by using a reactive ion etching to further reduce the width of the amorphous carbon mask prior to patterning the sensor. The method also allows extraneous portions of the side insulation layer and hard bias layer to be removed above the sensor by a light CMP process.

Abstract: An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a near field transducer comprising a conductive metal film; and an optical waveguide for illumination of the near field transducer, a light guiding core layer of the optical waveguide being spaced from the near field transducer by less than about 100 nanometers and greater than 0 nanometers, wherein a longitudinal axis of the optical waveguide is substantially perpendicular to an air bearing surface.

Abstract: The presented embodiments generally relate to designing an antenna of an optical transducer (e.g., a near-field transducer or near-field optical source) that focuses the optical energy of a radiation source (e.g., a laser) onto a magnetic media, thereby heating the media. Specifically, the antenna is designed to wrap-around an aperture of the optical transducer such that at least a portion of the antenna is between a main pole of a write head and a surface of the aperture that faces the main pole. Moreover, the antenna may wrap-around the aperture such that it directly contacts the main pole.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a c-aperture or E-antenna plasmonic near field source for thermal assisted recording applications in hard disk drives is disclosed. A c-aperture or E-antenna is built for recording head applications. The technique employs e-beam lithography, partial reactive ion etching and metal refill to build the c-apertures. This process strategy has the advantage over other techniques in the self-alignment of the c-aperture notch to the c-aperture internal diameter, the small number of process steps required, and the precise and consistent shape of the c-aperture notch itself.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a magnetic read sensor at very narrow track widths. The method uses an amorphous carbon mask layer to pattern the sensor by ion milling, rather than a mask constructed of a material such as photoresist or DURIMIDE® which can bend over during ion milling at very narrow track widths. By using the amorphous carbon layer as the masking layer, the trackwidth can be very small, while avoiding this bending over of the mask that has been experienced with prior art methods. In addition, the track-width can be further reduced by using a reactive ion etching to further reduce the width of the amorphous carbon mask prior to patterning the sensor. The method also allows extraneous portions of the side insulation layer and hard bias layer to be removed above the sensor by a light CMP process.

Abstract: A write head structure for use with thermally assisted recording is disclosed. Improved heat sinking is provided for removing thermal energy created by a ridge aperture near field light transducer. Metal films conduct heat away from the region near the ridge aperture to the high pressure air film at the ABS between the head and media. This heat is further dissipated by the media. The metal films have varying thickness to improve lateral conductivity and may be composed of Au combined with a harder metal such as Ru to improve wear characteristics at the ABS.

Abstract: Read sensors and associated methods of fabrication are disclosed. A read sensor as disclosed herein includes a first shield, a sensor stack including an antiparallel (AP) free layer, and insulating material disposed on the sensor stack. A aperture is formed through the insulating material above the sensor stack so that a subsequently deposited second shield is electrically coupled to the sensor stack through the aperture. The width of the aperture controls the current density that is injected into the top of the sensor stack. Also, hard bias structures may be formed to be electrically coupled to the sensor stack. The electrical coupling of the sensor stack and the hard bias structures allows current to laterally spread out as it passes through the sensor stack, and hence, provides a non-uniform current density.

Abstract: An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a near field transducer comprising a conductive metal film; and an optical waveguide for illumination of the near field transducer, a light guiding core layer of the optical waveguide being spaced from the near field transducer by less than about 100 nanometers and greater than 0 nanometers, wherein a longitudinal axis of the optical waveguide is substantially perpendicular to an air bearing surface.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes a near field transducer comprising a conductive metal film having a main body and a ridge extending from the main body and an optical waveguide for illumination of the near field transducer, a light guiding core layer of the optical waveguide being spaced from the near field transducer by less than about 100 nanometers and greater than 0 nanometers. In another embodiment, a method includes forming a near field transducer structure and removing a portion of the near field transducer structure. The method also includes forming a cladding layer adjacent a remaining portion of the near field transducer structure, wherein a portion of the cladding layer extends along the remaining portion of the near field transducer structure and forming a core layer above the cladding layer. Other apparatuses and methods are also included in the invention.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a c-aperture or E-antenna plasmonic near field source for thermal assisted recording applications in hard disk drives is disclosed. A c-aperture or E-antenna is built for recording head applications. The technique employs e-beam lithography, partial reactive ion etching and metal refill to build the c-apertures. This process strategy has the advantage over other techniques in the self-alignment of the c-aperture notch to the c-aperture internal diameter, the small number of process steps required, and the precise and consistent shape of the c-aperture notch itself.

Abstract: A write head structure for use with thermally assisted recording is disclosed. Improved heat sinking is provided for removing thermal energy created by a ridge aperture near field light transducer. Metal films conduct heat away from the region near the ridge aperture to the high pressure air film at the ABS between the head and media. This heat is further dissipated by the media. The metal films have varying thickness to improve lateral conductivity and may be composed of Au combined with a harder metal such as Ru to improve wear characteristics at the ABS.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a c-aperture or E-antenna plasmonic near field source for thermal assisted recording applications in hard disk drives is disclosed. A c-aperture or E-antenna is built for recording head applications. The technique employs e-beam lithography, partial reactive ion etching and metal refill to build the c-apertures. This process strategy has the advantage over other techniques in the self-alignment of the c-aperture notch to the c-aperture internal diameter, the small number of process steps required, and the precise and consistent shape of the c-aperture notch itself.

Abstract: A perpendicular write head having a wrap around trailing shield for reducing stray field writing and adjacent track interference. A method for constructing such a write head allows for excellent control of side shield gap thickness and trailing shield gap thickness, and allows the ratio of side gap to trailing gap thicknesses to be maintained at about two to one as desired. The method includes depositing forming a write pole by constructing a mask which may include a bi-layer hard mask, and then ion milling to form the write pole. Once the write pole has been formed, a layer of alumina or some other non-magnetic material can be conformally deposited. A reactive ion mill (RIM) can be performed to open up the top of the write pole (remove the horizontally disposed portions of the alumina layer). Then, a second layer of alumina or some other non-magnetic material can be deposited, and the write pole can be plated.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a write pole that prevents P2 pedestal consumption during ion milling removal of coil and pole seed layers. The write head can be constructed by forming a first pole and then forming a magnetic pedestal (P2) over the first pole. A protective layer of, for example, alumina is deposited over a portion of the pedestal in the pole tip region, leaving a portion of the pedestal uncovered in the flare region. A coil seed layer can then be deposited and a coil formed. When the coil seed layer is removed, such as by ion milling, the pole tip region of the pedestal is protected from the ion milling by the protective layer. Similarly, a top pole can be deposited by first depositing an electrically conductive, magnetic seed layer and then plating the top pole. When the top pole seed layer is removed by ion milling, the pole tip region of the pedestal is protected from removal by the protective layer.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes a near field transducer comprising a conductive metal film having a main body and a ridge extending from the main body and an optical waveguide for illumination of the near field transducer, a light guiding core layer of the optical waveguide being spaced from the near field transducer by less than about 100 nanometers and greater than 0 nanometers. In another embodiment, a method includes forming a near field transducer structure and removing a portion of the near field transducer structure. The method also includes forming a cladding layer adjacent a remaining portion of the near field transducer structure, wherein a portion of the cladding layer extends along the remaining portion of the near field transducer structure and forming a core layer above the cladding layer. Other apparatuses and methods are also included in the invention.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a c-aperture or E-antenna plasmonic near field source for thermal assisted recording applications in hard disk drives is disclosed. A c-aperture or E-antenna is built for recording head applications. The technique employs e-beam lithography, partial reactive ion etching and metal refill to build the c-apertures. This process strategy has the advantage over other techniques in the self-alignment of the c-aperture notch to the c-aperture internal diameter, the small number of process steps required, and the precise and consistent shape of the c-aperture notch itself.

Abstract: A perpendicular write head includes a beveled main pole having corners defining a track width and having a planarized surface and encapsulated on either side thereof and below by an alumina layer, the alumina layer having a polished surface and extending above the main pole on either side thereof as steps.

Abstract: A method of making a magnetoresistive sensor includes defining a track width of a magnetoresistive element stack of the sensor with a hard mask and photoresist. Further, processes of the method enable depositing of hard magnetic bias material on each side of the stack after the hard mask used to define the track width is removed. A separate chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) stop layer that is different from the hard mask enables subsequent creating of a planar surface via CMP to remove unwanted material on top of the sensor stack.