Abstract: A gap of a thin-film magnetic head is formed of NiP. The P content of the NiP gap layer is controlled to be within the range of 11 mass percent to 14 mass percent so that the gap layer is nonmagnetic.

Abstract: A soft magnetic film of the present invention is a plated film composed of Co and Fe, and columnar crystals extending in the film thickness direction are provided. In the present invention, columnar crystals extending in the film thickness direction are provided so that an improvement in the surface roughness of the film surface and an improvement in the corrosion resistance can be achieved. Furthermore, the saturation magnetic flux density Bs can also be improved by making the crystal fine and eliminating the need for addition of the noble metal element. That is, according to a CoFe alloy of the present invention, both the corrosion resistance and the saturation magnetic flux density Bs can be improved, and specifically, the above-mentioned saturation magnetic flux density Bs can be increased to 2.35 T or more.

Abstract: A lower shield layer is formed by being embedded in a first recess formed in an under layer. Accordingly, the distance between the lower shield layer and a slider can be reduced. Also, a second metal layer is formed from above a gap layer covering an electrode extracting layer over above the under layer hindwards therefrom. Accordingly, the second metal layer can be brought closer to the slider side than an upper shield layer. Consequently, the thermal dissipation effects of the thin-film magnetic head can be improved.

Abstract: A lower shield layer is formed by being embedded in a first recess formed in an under layer. Accordingly, the distance between the lower shield layer and a slider can be reduced. Also, a second metal layer is formed from above a gap layer covering an electrode extracting layer over above the under layer hindwards therefrom. Accordingly, the second metal layer can be brought closer to the slider side than an upper shield layer. Consequently, the thermal dissipation effects of the thin-film magnetic head can be improved.

Abstract: In a non-magnetic material layer, a concave portion is formed above a groove G. In addition, an auxiliary magnetic pole layer is formed having a convex portion which extends in the direction toward a main magnetic pole layer and which is placed in the concave portion. Accordingly, since a magnetic flux B passing in a perpendicular magnetic recording head from the main magnetic pole layer to the auxiliary magnetic pole layer is generated, an appropriate adjustment of the intensity of a magnetic field A generated from the main magnetic pole layer can be easily performed, and the edge of a recording track on a recording medium M can be clearly defined.

Abstract: There is provided a perpendicular magnetic recording head device which can increase magnetic field gradient to exhibit excellent recording performance while maintaining magnetic field intensity capable of performing information recording well. In a perpendicular magnetic recording head device composed of a main magnetic pole layer and a return path layer which are laminated with a nonmagnetic insulating layer therebetween, the return path layer has a two-layer structure composed of a low saturation magnetic flux density layer (low Bs layer), and a high saturation magnetic flux density layer (high Bs layer) formed an the low Bs layer and made of a material that has a relatively high saturation magnetic flux density. In a front end surface of the return path layer, the low Bs layer and the high Bs layer are exposed.

Abstract: A main magnetic pole layer is formed on an insulating layer flattened into a high-flatness surface, and a yoke layer having a large film thickness is formed on the main magnetic pole layer independently of the main magnetic pole. The main magnetic pole layer has a front end surface formed in a shape with a width size gradually increasing in a direction of track width as the front end surface departs farther away from an auxiliary magnetic pole layer. A perpendicular magnetic recording head can be provided which can suppress the occurrence of fringing in a recording pattern, and can form the main magnetic pole layer with high pattern accuracy, and can satisfactorily-introduce a recording magnetic field to a fore end of the main magnetic pole layer.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head includes a magnetic pole, a magnetic circuit unit separate from the magnetic pole, and a coil layer. The magnetic pole has a predetermined shape in which the width of the bottom surface of an upper magnetic pole layer is larger than the width of the top surface of a lower magnetic pole layer. The core layer is disposed at the back in the height direction of the magnetic pole.

Abstract: A soft magnetic film and a method of manufacturing the soft magnetic film are provided. The soft magnetic film is plated with Fe and Ni, Fe and Co, or Fe, Ni and Co. A ratio Cl/Fe of ion strengths between negative-charged Fe and Cl and a ratio S/Fe of ion strengths between negative-charged Fe and S are less than about 10 in measurement by a time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry.

Abstract: By forming a rearmost second coil piece so as to have a larger width in the track-width direction and a larger area than those of coil pieces, heat generated in a thin-film magnetic head can be effectively released to the rearmost coil piece. Thus, a temperature rise in the thin-film magnetic recording head can be further reduced than is possible today, thereby preventing the thin-film magnetic head from protrusion due to its thermal expansion.

Abstract: A magnetic recording head is provided. The magnetic recording head comprises a main magnetic pole layer, a return path layer, and a coil layer. A facing surface faces a recording medium. A yoke layer is formed between the main magnetic pole layer and the return path layer. An extending front end portion is formed in the return path layer and the yoke layer is disposed inside the extending front end portion in a height direction. The main magnetic pole layer includes a front end and a rear end and the yoke layer is formed on the surface of the main magnetic pole layer to cover the base.

Abstract: A magnetic recording head and a method of manufacturing the magnetic recording head are provided. The perpendicular magnetic recording head includes a main magnetic pole layer and a return path layer that face each other with a gap therebetween in a lamination direction. A non-magnetic insulating layer is interposed between the main magnetic pole layer and the return path layer. At least one stepped portion is formed on a facing surface of at least one of the main magnetic pole layer and the return path layer.

Abstract: In a thin-film magnetic head, a lower magnetic pole layer and a planarizing magnetic layer in continuity with the lower magnetic layer are arranged. Since a coil formation surface is positioned lower than the top surface of the lower magnetic pole layer and the planarizing magnetic layer, the front end of an upper magnetic core layer is formed to be a predetermined track width with a high accuracy. A thin-film magnetic head having good information writing characteristics and a method for manufacturing the thin-film magnetic head are thus provided.

Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a perpendicular magnetic recording head, a groove defined by the inner side surfaces of a first nonmagnetic layer and the top surface of a main magnetic pole layer is formed using the difference in etching rates for dry etching between the main magnetic pole layer and the first nonmagnetic layer. An auxiliary magnetic pole layer is formed on the groove with a nonmagnetic material layer disposed therebetween. A projection integrated with the auxiliary magnetic pole layer is formed in a recess of the nonmagnetic material layer on the groove. This projection extends toward the main magnetic pole layer.

Abstract: A main magnetic pole layer is formed on an insulating layer flattened into a high-flatness surface, and a yoke layer having a large film thickness is formed under the main magnetic pole layer independently of the main magnetic pole. The main magnetic pole layer has a front end surface formed in a shape with a width size gradually increasing in a direction of track width as the front end surface departs farther away from an auxiliary magnetic pole layer. A perpendicular magnetic recording head can be provided which can suppress the occurrence of fringing in a recording pattern, and can form the main magnetic pole layer with high pattern accuracy, and can satisfactorily introduce a recording magnetic field to a fore end of the main magnetic pole layer.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording head includes a main pole layer and a return path layer that are exposed from a medium-facing surface of the recording head facing a recording medium and that face each other with a predetermined gap therebetween at the medium-facing surface. A coil layer applies a recording magnetic field to the main pole layer and the return path layer. The return path layer includes a gap adjusting layer and a main layer stacked in that order from a side facing the main pole layer. The gap adjusting layer is positioned so as to face the main pole layer and the recording medium, and is made of a magnetic material having a resistivity lower than resistivities of the main layer and the main pole layer.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head includes a lower core layer; a recording core formed on the lower core layer and exposed at a face surface facing a recording medium, the recording core including a gap layer, an upper pole layer, and optionally, a lower pole layer; an upper core layer magnetically coupled to the upper pole layer; and a coil. A tip surface of the upper core layer at the face surface is set back from the face surface in the height direction, and the tip surface is an inclined surface or a curved surface in which the depth gradually increases from the track width direction. A method for fabricating a thin-film magnetic head is also disclosed.

Abstract: An auxiliary yoke layer is provided on a main magnetic pole layer with a spacer layer provided therebetween. A rear end of the auxiliary yoke layer and a rear end of a return yoke layer are connected to each other. At all times except during recording, the presence of the spacer layer breaks the magnetic connection between the main magnetic pole layer and the auxiliary yoke layer. On the other hand, a recording magnetic field having a magnetic field strength significantly higher than that of a disturbance magnetic field reaches the main magnetic pole layer through the spacer layer. Thereby, the adverse effect of the disturbance magnetic field is suppressed and the recording property is appropriately maintained.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head includes a lower core layer; a recording core formed on the lower core layer and exposed at a face surface facing a recording medium, the recording core including a gap layer, an upper pole layer, and optionally, a lower pole layer; an upper core layer magnetically coupled to the upper pole layer; and a coil. A tip surface of the upper core layer at the face surface is set back from the face surface in the height direction, and the tip surface is an inclined surface or a curved surface in which the depth gradually increases from the track width direction. A method for fabricating a thin-film magnetic head is also disclosed.

Abstract: A soft magnetic film composed of an alloy represented by the formula FeNiRe is used for forming a lower core layer and/or an upper core layer. Since having a high saturated magnetic flux density, a high resistivity, superior corrosion resistance, and a small loss in a high frequency signal region, the FeNiRe alloy can be used for forming a highly reliable thin film magnetic head.