Abstract: A microwave-assisted magnetic recording (MAMR) head according to one embodiment includes a main magnetic pole adapted to generate a writing magnetic field when current is applied to a write coil; a trailing shield positioned, at an air bearing surface (ABS), in a trailing direction from the main magnetic pole; and a field generation layer (FGL) positioned, at the ABS, between the main magnetic pole and the trailing shield, wherein either a portion of the main magnetic pole closer to the FGL or a portion of the trailing shield closer to the FGL is adapted to act as a spin polarization layer.

Abstract: A magnetic disk drive system configured for shingled magnetic data recording wherein data tracks are recorded in an overlapping fashion on a magnetic media. The disk drive system includes magnetic write heads that are asymmetric so as to have increased writing at one side of the write head. The magnetic disk drive system includes magnetic write heads that are mirror images of one another so that write heads located at opposite surfaces of the magnetic media (e.g. one head facing up and one facing down) end up having preferential writing in the location relative to inner and outer diameters of the magnetic media.

Abstract: A magnetic data storage system according to one embodiment includes a magnetic head adapted to record data according to a shingled magnetic recording (SMR) process. The magnetic head includes a main pole adapted to produce a writing magnetic field, a trailing shield positioned above a trailing side of the main pole, wherein a trailing gap is defined between the trailing shield and the main pole, and a spin torque oscillator (STO) positioned above a first trailing corner of the main pole at an STO-side of the main pole, wherein the trailing gap has a greater length in a film thickness direction near the STO-side of the main pole and a lesser length in the film thickness direction near a second trailing corner of the main pole opposite the first trailing corner in a track width direction of the main pole.

Abstract: The present invention enhances reliability by correcting a write error due to unstable oscillation of a spin torque oscillator. In the present invention, a resistance value of a spin torque oscillator is monitored to detect that oscillation becomes unstable during recording. When a measured resistance value is out of a predefined normal range, information for which the recording operation is already performed is rewritten.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention aim suppress the generation of spin torque noise in a current perpendicular to plane magnetoresistive head. According to one embodiment, when sensing current is applied to a current perpendicular to plane magnetoresistive head from a free layer toward a first pinned layer, a configuration wherein the relative angle between the magnetization of a second pinned layer and the magnetization of the free layer is in the range of 70 to 80 degrees is used. Further, when sensing current is applied to a current perpendicular to plane magnetoresistive head from a first pinned layer toward a free layer, a configuration wherein the relative angle between the magnetization of a second pinned layer and the magnetization of the free layer is in the range of 100 to 110 degrees is used.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a main magnetic pole, a trailing shield positioned on a trailing side of the main magnetic pole, a trailing gap positioned between the trailing shield and the main magnetic pole, side shields positioned on either side of the main magnetic pole in a cross-track direction, side gaps positioned between the side shields and the main magnetic pole on either side of the main magnetic pole in the cross-track direction, and trailing shield gaps positioned on either side of the main magnetic pole in the cross-track direction between the trailing shield and the side shields, wherein the trailing shield gaps extend beyond the side gaps in a direction parallel to the cross-track direction. In addition, a method for producing a magnetic head as described above is also disclosed, according to one embodiment.

Abstract: In a magnetic head to be used for a shingled recording method, degradation of a signal resolution and a decrease in a signal-to-noise ratio which are caused by an asymmetrical inter-bit transition curvature are prevented, and a low bit error rate is realized. A magnetic head includes a recording head and a reproducing head. The reproducing head includes a pair of magnetic shields and a sensor sandwiched between the pair of magnetic shields. The gap between the magnetic shields is formed so that the longitudinal direction thereof gets inclined by a certain angle with respect to a cross-track direction in line with the shape of a curvature of an inter-bit transition on an effective record track in a record pattern recorded on a recording medium.

Abstract: The present invention enhances reliability by correcting a write error due to unstable oscillation of a spin torque oscillator. In the present invention, a resistance value of a spin torque oscillator is monitored to detect that oscillation becomes unstable during recording. When a measured resistance value is out of a predefined normal range, information for which the recording operation is already performed is rewritten.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention help to prevent a head characteristic from being deteriorated by re-deposition or damage which occurs when a sensor film is etched, a track width is narrowed, and the head characteristic is stabilized. According to one embodiment, when it is assumed that the thickness of the sensor film on an air bearing surface is T, and a distance between an end of a medium layer that is interposed between a free layer and a pinned layer which comprise the sensor film and an end of the sensor film lowest portion, a relationship of 1.2×T?X?2.5×T is satisfied, and the ends of a pair of magnetic films which are in contact with both sides in the track-width direction through an insulator do not exist in the track central portion from the free layer end.

Abstract: A magnetic recording read head is provided capable of achieving high reproduction output, resolution, and SNR, even at a high linear density. There is also provided a magnetic recording and reproducing device capable of achieving sufficient error bit rate. The magnetic recording read head includes a differential read head and a write head. The differential read head has a multilayer structure formed by laminating a first magnetoresistive sensor having a first free layer, a differential gap layer, and a second magnetoresistive sensor having a second free layer. Outside the multilayer structure, a pair of electrodes and a pair of magnetic shields are provided respectively. A ratio (Gl/bl) of an inside distance (Gl) between the first and second free layers to a bit length (bl) is set to 0.6 or more and 1.6 or less.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a differential-type magnetic read head includes a differential-type magneto-resistive-effect film formed on a substrate, and a pair of electrodes for applying current in a direction perpendicular to a film plane of the film. The film includes a first and second stacked film, each having a pinned layer, an intermediate layer, and a free layer, with the second stacked film being formed on the first stacked film. A side face in a track width direction of the film is shaped to have an inflection point at an intermediate position in a thickness direction of the film, and the side face is shaped to be approximately vertical to the substrate in an upward direction of the substrate from the inflection point. Also, the side face is shaped to be gradually increased in track width as approaching the substrate in a downward direction of the substrate from the inflection point.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive head which has a high head SNR by reducing generated mag-noise without deteriorating an output comprises, according to one embodiment, a magnetoresistive sensor having a laminated structure which includes an antiferromagnetic layer, a magnetization pinned layer, a non-magnetic intermediate layer, a magnetization free layer, and a magnetization stable layer arranged adjacent to the magnetization free layer. The magnetization stable layer comprises non-magnetic coupling layer, a first ferromagnetic stable layer, an antiparallel coupling layer, and a second ferromagnetic stable layer. A magnetization quantity of a first ferromagnetic stable layer and a second ferromagnetic stable layer are substantially equal, and the magnetization of the first ferromagnetic stable layer and the second ferromagnetic stable layer are magnetically coupled in the antiparallel direction from each other.

Abstract: In a conventional type magnetic head that performs microwave assisted recording, since a difference in a demagnetizing field between an end and the center of a field generation layer (FGL) grows larger when saturation magnetization of the FGL grows larger, the FGL that generates a microwave is not oscillated in a state of a single domain. Then, a spin-torque oscillator according to the present invention used for a magnetic head for microwave assisted recording is provided with at least one fixed layer, one non-magnetic intermediate layer and one alternating-current magnetic field generation layer respectively and is provided with a structure where saturation magnetization at ends of a film except an end in a direction from an air bearing surface to a surface opposite to it is made smaller than saturation magnetization in the center of the film of the alternating-current magnetic field generation layer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention help to provide a single element type differential magnetoresistive magnetic head capable of achieving high resolution and high manufacturing stability. According to one embodiment, a magnetoresistive layered film is formed by stacking an underlayer film, an antiferromagnetic film, a ferromagnetic pinned layer, a non-magnetic intermediate layer, a soft magnetic free layer, a long distance antiparallel coupling layered film, and a differential soft magnetic free layer. The long distance antiparallel coupling layered film exchange-couples the soft magnetic free layer and the differential soft magnetic free layer in an antiparallel state with a distance of about 3 nanometers through 20 nanometers. By manufacturing the single element type differential magnetoresistive magnetic head using the magnetoresistive layered film, it becomes possible to achieve the high resolution and the high manufacturing stability without spoiling the GMR effect.

Abstract: In a magnetic head to be used for a shingled recording method, degradation of a signal resolution and a decrease in a signal-to-noise ratio which are caused by an asymmetrical inter-bit transition curvature are prevented, and a low bit error rate is realized. A magnetic head includes a recording head and a reproducing head. The reproducing head includes a pair of magnetic shields and a sensor sandwiched between the pair of magnetic shields. The gap between the magnetic shields is formed so that the longitudinal direction thereof gets inclined by a certain angle with respect to a cross-track direction in line with the shape of a curvature of an inter-bit transition on an effective record track in a record pattern recorded on a recording medium.

Abstract: Provided is a differential type reproduction head which can obtain a preferable bit error rate without causing a baseline shift even when two magnetoresistive elements have different maximum resistance change amounts. The differential type reproduction head has a layered structure formed by a first magnetoresistive element having a first free layer, a differential gap layer, and a second magnetoresistive element having a second free layer. When DR1 and DR2 are the maximum resistance change amounts of the first magnetoresistive element and the second magnetoresistive element, respectively, HB1 is a magnetic domain control field applied to the first free layer, and HB2 is a magnetic domain control field applied to the second free layer, the following relationships are satisfied: HB1>HB2 when DR1>DR2; HB2>HB1 when DR2>DR1.

Abstract: Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide a method of manufacturing a magneto-resistive head which can realize high sensitivity and good linear response characteristics with low noise even if a track width becomes narrower. A uniaxial anisotropy unaffected by annealing which is due to the orientation of the crystal grain growth direction, is induced in a magnetic layer. The free magnetic layer has the synthetic antiferromagnetic construction: first magnetic layer/interlayer antiferromagnetic coupling layer/second magnetic layer, the magnitude of the antiferromagnetic coupling is adjusted, and linear response characteristics are obtained even if a longitudinal biasing field applying mechanism is not provided.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a differential-type magnetic read head includes a differential-type magneto-resistive-effect film formed on a substrate, and a pair of electrodes for applying current in a direction perpendicular to a film plane of the film. The film includes a first and second stacked film, each having a pinned layer, an intermediate layer, and a free layer, with the second stacked film being formed on the first stacked film. A side face in a track width direction of the film is shaped to have an inflection point at an intermediate position in a thickness direction of the film, and the side face is shaped to be approximately vertical to the substrate in an upward direction of the substrate from the inflection point. Also, the side face is shaped to be gradually increased in track width as approaching the substrate in a downward direction of the substrate from the inflection point.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive head which has a high head SNR by reducing generated mag-noise without deteriorating an output comprises, according to one embodiment, a magnetoresistive sensor having a laminated structure which includes an antiferromagnetic layer, a magnetization pinned layer, a non-magnetic intermediate layer, a magnetization free layer, and a magnetization stable layer arranged adjacent to the magnetization free layer. The magnetization stable layer comprises non-magnetic coupling layer, a first ferromagnetic stable layer, an antiparallel coupling layer, and a second ferromagnetic stable layer. A magnetization quantity of a first ferromagnetic stable layer and a second ferromagnetic stable layer are substantially equal, and the magnetization of the first ferromagnetic stable layer and the second ferromagnetic stable layer are magnetically coupled in the antiparallel direction from each other.

Abstract: A spin-valve type magnetic head which has sufficiently high output is provided. In one embodiment, a structure in which high output coexists with high stability is achieved by letting a GMR-effect and a current-path-confinement effect manifest themselves at the same time in a GMR-screen layer consisting of a ferromagnetic metal spike-like part and a half-covering oxide layer.