Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) head comprises a PMR pole having at least one side, a bottom, and a top wider than the bottom, a first portion of the at least one side being substantially vertical, a second portion of the at least one side being nonvertical, the top portion having a width not greater than one hundred fifty nanometers. The PRM head further comprises a nonmagnetic layer surrounding the bottom and the at least one side of the PMR pole, an intermediate layer substantially surrounding at least the second portion of the at least one side of the PMR pole, and a hard mask layer adjacent to the first portion of the at least one side of the PMR pole.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a magnetic write head having a leading magnetic shield and a trailing magnetic shield that are arranged to prevent the lost of magnetic write field to the trailing magnetic shield. The write head includes a non-magnetic step layer that provides additional spacing between the trailing magnetic shield and the write pole at a region removed from the air bearing surface.

Abstract: Methods for fabrication of leading edge shields and tapered magnetic poles with a tapered leading edge are provided. The leading edge shield may be formed by utilizing a CMP stop layer. The CMP stop layer may aid in preventing over polishing of the magnetic material. For the tapered magnetic poles with a tapered leading edge, a magnetic material is deposited on a planarized surface, a patterned resist material is formed, and exposed magnetic material is etched to form at least one tapered surface of the magnetic material.

Abstract: Embodiments herein generally relate to TMR readers and methods for their manufacture. The embodiments discussed herein disclose TMR readers that utilize a structure that avoids use of the DLC layer over the sensor structure and over the hard bias layer. The capping structure over the sensor structure functions as both a protective layer for the sensor structure and a CMP stop layer. The hard bias capping structure functions as both a protective structure for the hard bias layer and as a CMP stop layer. The capping structures that are free of DLC reduce the formation of notches in the second shield layer so that second shield layer is substantially flat.

Abstract: Methods for fabrication of leading edge shields and tapered magnetic poles with a tapered leading edge are provided. The leading edge shield may be formed by utilizing a CMP stop layer. The CMP stop layer may aid in preventing over polishing of the magnetic material. For the tapered magnetic poles with a tapered leading edge, a magnetic material is deposited on a planarized surface, a patterned resist material is formed, and exposed magnetic material is etched to form at least one tapered surface of the magnetic material.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a TMR reader and a method for its manufacture. The TMR reader discussed herein adds a shield layer to the sensor structure. The shield layer is deposited over the capping layer so that the shield layer and the capping layer collectively protect the free magnetic layer within the sensor structure from damage during further processing. Additionally, the hard bias layer is shaped such that the entire hard bias layer underlies the hard bias capping layer so that a top lead layer is not present. By eliminating the top lead layer and including a shield layer within the sensor structure, the read gap is reduced while still protecting the free magnetic layer during later processing.

Abstract: Magnetic write heads and corresponding fabrication methods for bi-layer wrap around shields resulting in dissimilar shield layer widths are disclosed. A gap structure is formed around a main write pole for a magnetic write head. A wrap around shield for the main write pole is fabricated to include a first magnetic layer proximate to the main write pole and a second magnetic layer on the first magnetic layer. A width of the first magnetic layer is less than the width of the second magnetic layer, and back edges of the first and second magnetic layers are coplanar. Further, a throat height of the wrap around shield is maintained between the first and the second magnetic layers because their back edges are coplanar.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) transducer from pole layer(s) are disclosed. First and second planarization stop layers are provided on the pole layer(s). A mask is provided on the second planarization stop layer. A first portion of the mask resides on a portion of the pole layer(s) used to form the PMR pole. The PMR pole is defined after the mask is provided. An intermediate layer surrounding at least the PMR pole is provided. A first planarization is performed on at least the intermediate layer. A portion of the second planarization stop layer is removed during the first planarization. A remaining portion of the second planarization stop layer is removed. A second planarization is performed. A portion of the first planarization stop layer remains after the second planarization. A write gap and shield are provided on the PMR pole and write gap, respectively.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a PMR pole in a magnetic recording transducer including an intermediate layer are disclosed. The method and system include providing a mask including a line on the intermediate layer. The method further include providing a hard mask layer on the mask and removing the line. Thus, an aperture in the hard mask corresponding to the line is provided. The method and system also include forming a trench in the intermediate layer under the aperture. The trench has a bottom and a top wider than the bottom. The method further includes providing a PMR pole, at least a portion of which resides in the trench.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a magnetic write head having a tapered write pole as well as a leading edge taper, and independent trailing and side magnetic shields. The method allows the write pole to be constructed by a dry process wherein the write pole material is either deposited by a process such as sputter deposition or electrically plated and the write pole shape is defined by masking and ion milling. The write pole has a stepped feature that can either be used to provide increased magnetic spacing between the trailing shield and the write pole at a location slightly recessed from the ABS or can be magnetic material that increases the effective thickness of the write pole at a location slightly recessed from the ABS. A bump structure can be further built over that stepped feature to enhance field gradient as well as reduce trailing shield saturation. Because the trailing and side shields are formed independently, they can be made of different materials and with different throat heights.

Abstract: A method for providing a perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) transducer is described. The PMR transducer provided includes a PMR pole and yoke structure coupled with the PMR pole. The method includes providing a hard mask and an intermediate layer. A first portion of the hard mask resides on the PMR pole. A second portion of the hard mask resides on another structure. The intermediate layer surrounds at least the PMR pole. The method also includes performing a planarization on at least the intermediate layer, removing the first portion of the hard mask on the PMR pole without completely removing the second portion of the hard mask on the other structure. The method further includes removing a remaining portion of the hard mask on the other structure, providing a write gap on the PMR pole, and providing a shield on the write gap.

Abstract: A method for providing a perpendicular magnetic recording head includes providing a metal underlayer and forming a trench in the metal underlayer. The trench has a bottom and a top wider than the bottom. The method also includes providing a PMR pole. At least a portion of the PMR pole resides in the trench. The method also includes providing a write gap on the PMR pole and providing a top shield on at least the write gap.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a magnetic write head having a leading magnetic shield and a trailing magnetic shield that are arranged to prevent the lost of magnetic write field to the trailing magnetic shield. The write head includes a non-magnetic step layer that provides additional spacing between the trailing magnetic shield and the write pole at a region removed from the air bearing surface.

Abstract: A magnetic write head having a tapered trailing edge and having a magnetic layer formed over a trailing edge of the write pole at a location recessed from the ABS, the magnetic layer being separated from the trailing edge of the write pole by a thin non-magnetic layer. The thin non-magnetic layer is preferably sufficiently thin that the magnetic layer can function as a portion of the write pole in a region removed from the ABS. A trailing magnetic shield is formed over the write pole and is separated from the write pole by a non-magnetic trailing gap layer. A non-magnetic spacer layer can be formed over the magnetic layer to provide additional separation between the magnetic layer and the trailing magnetic shield.

Abstract: The method and system for providing a perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) head are described. The PMR head includes a base layer, a nonmagnetic metal underlayer on the base layer, and a PMR pole on the nonmagnetic metal underlayer. The PMR pole has a top that is wider than its bottom. The base layer has a first hardness with respect to a pole trim. The nonmagnetic metal underlayer has a second hardness with respect to the pole trim. The second hardness is less than the first hardness.

Abstract: The method and system for providing a magnetoresistive device are disclosed. The magnetoresistive device is formed from a plurality of magnetoresistive layer. The method and system include providing a mask. The mask covers a first portion of the magnetoresistive element layers in at least one device area. The magnetoresistive element(s) are defined using the mask. The method and system include depositing hard bias layer(s). The method and system also include providing a hard bias capping structure on the hard bias layer(s). The hard bias capping structure includes a first protective layer and a planarization stop layer. The first protective layer resides between the planarization stop layer and the hard bias layer(s). The method and system also include performing a planarization. The planarization stop layer is configured for the planarization.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a magnetic recording transducer are disclosed. The method and system include providing a metallic underlayer directly on a portion of an insulating layer. The method and system also include forming a perpendicular magnetic recording pole on the metallic underlayer. The perpendicular magnetic recording pole has a top, a bottom narrower than the top, and sides. The perpendicular magnetic recording pole has a pole removal rate. The method and system also include providing an insulator having an insulator removal rate. The insulator substantially surrounds at least the sides of the perpendicular magnetic recording pole. The metallic underlayer has a removal rate that is at least one of less than the insulator removal rate and substantially equal to the pole removal rate.