Abstract: This thin film magnetic head includes: a magnetic pole including an end surface exposed on an air bearing surface; and a heating element including a first branch and a second branch and configured to heat a vicinity of the magnetic pole. The first branch and the second branch each expand along a stacking surface and are coupled in parallel to each other. The stacking surface intersects the air bearing surface.

Abstract: This thin film magnetic head includes a magnetic pole including an end surface exposed on an air bearing surface, and a contact detection section including a magnetic material layer provided near the air bearing surface, and a magnetic-domain stabilizing structure stabilizing a magnetic domain structure of the magnetic material layer.

Abstract: This thin film magnetic head includes a magnetic pole including an end surface exposed on an air bearing surface, and a contact detection section including a magnetic material layer provided near the air bearing surface, and a magnetic-domain stabilizing structure stabilizing a magnetic domain structure of the magnetic material layer.

Abstract: This thin film magnetic head includes: a magnetic pole including a first end surface exposed on an air bearing surface; a coil configured to provide a magnetic flux passing through inside of the magnetic pole; and a heatsink including a second end surface that is provided at a position recessed from the air bearing surface. The second end surface is configured to suppress reflection causing light that has traveled through an entering position on the air bearing surface to return to the entering position.

Abstract: This thin film magnetic head includes: a magnetic pole including an end surface exposed on an air bearing surface; and a heating element including a first branch and a second branch and configured to heat a vicinity of the magnetic pole. The first branch and the second branch each expand along a stacking surface and are coupled in parallel to each other. The stacking surface intersects the air bearing surface.

Abstract: This thin film magnetic head includes: a magnetic pole including a first end surface exposed on an air bearing surface; a coil configured to provide a magnetic flux passing through inside of the magnetic pole; and a heatsink including a second end surface that is provided at a position recessed from the air bearing surface. The second end surface is configured to suppress reflection causing light that has traveled through an entering position on the air bearing surface to return to the entering position.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes a main pole, a write shield, and a return path section. The write shield includes first and second shield portions located on opposite sides of the main pole in the track width direction. The return path section includes first and second yoke portions located on opposite sides of the main pole in the track width direction. The first yoke portion is connected to the first shield portion. The second yoke portion is connected to the second shield portion. A coil surrounds at least part of the entire outer periphery of the main pole when viewed from a medium facing surface.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes a main pole, a write shield, and a return path section. The write shield includes first and second shield portions located on opposite sides of the main pole in the track width direction. The return path section includes first and second yoke portions located on opposite sides of the main pole in the track width direction. The first yoke portion is connected to the first shield portion. The second yoke portion is connected to the second shield portion. A coil surrounds at least part of the entire outer periphery of the main pole when viewed from a medium facing surface.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes a medium facing surface that faces a surface of a recording medium, a write head section, a contact sensor that detects contact of the medium facing surface with the surface of the recording medium, and a heat sink adjacent to the contact sensor. The write head section has a magnetic pole that produces a write magnetic field for writing data on the recording medium. The contact sensor and the heat sink have respective end faces located in the medium facing surface. The contact sensor varies in resistance in response to temperature variations, and is to be energized. The heat sink includes an intermediate layer made of a nonmagnetic metal material, and two ferromagnetic layers made of a metal-based magnetic material, the two ferromagnetic layers being disposed with the intermediate layer therebetween, and being antiferromagnetically exchange-coupled to each other via the intermediate layer.

Abstract: A thermally-assisted magnetic recording head, includes: a pole that generates a writing magnetic field from an end surface that forms a portion of an air bearing surface opposing a magnetic recording medium; a waveguide through which light for exciting a surface plasmon propagates; a plasmon generator that couples to the light in a surface plasmon mode and generates near-field light from a near-field light generating portion on a near-field light generating end surface that forms the portion of the air bearing surface; and magnetic field focusing parts that are able to focus the writing magnetic field generated from the pole and that are disposed on both sides of the pole in a track width direction from a perspective of the air bearing surface side.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes a medium facing surface that faces a surface of a recording medium, a write head section, a contact sensor that detects contact of the medium facing surface with the surface of the recording medium, and a heat sink adjacent to the contact sensor. The write head section has a magnetic pole that produces a write magnetic field for writing data on the recording medium. The contact sensor and the heat sink have respective end faces located in the medium facing surface. The contact sensor varies in resistance in response to temperature variations, and is to be energized. The heat sink includes an intermediate layer made of a nonmagnetic metal material, and two ferromagnetic layers made of a metal-based magnetic material, the two ferromagnetic layers being disposed with the intermediate layer therebetween, and being antiferromagnetically exchange-coupled to each other via the intermediate layer.

Abstract: The magnetic read write head has a read head and a write head, each having an end face exposed on an air bearing surface. The write head performs heat assist magnetic recording, and is provided with: a magnetic pole having an end face exposed on the air bearing surface; a waveguide extending toward the air bearing surface to propagate light; and a plasmon generator provided between the magnetic pole and the waveguide, and generating near-field light based on the light propagated through the waveguide to emit the generated near-field light from the air bearing surface. The waveguide is surrounded by a clad layer, and the magnetic pole is in contact with a heat sink having a heat conductivity higher than that of the clad layer. Although the near-field light causes temperature rise, heat energy from the plasmon generator to the magnetic pole is released through the heat sink.

Abstract: A thermally-assisted magnetic recording head, includes: a pole that generates a writing magnetic field from an end surface that forms a portion of an air bearing surface opposing a magnetic recording medium; a waveguide through which light for exciting a surface plasmon propagates; a plasmon generator that couples to the light in a surface plasmon mode and generates near-field light from a near-field light generating portion on a near-field light generating end surface that forms the portion of the air bearing surface; and magnetic field focusing parts that are able to focus the writing magnetic field generated from the pole and that are disposed on both sides of the pole in a track width direction from a perspective of the air bearing surface side.

Abstract: Provided is a thermally-assisted magnetic recording head capable of setting the near-field light (NFL-) emission point to be sufficiently close to the write-field-generating portion. The head comprises a magnetic pole, a waveguide propagating light, and a NFL-generator coupled with the light in surface plasmon mode. The NFL-generator comprises a propagation edge extending to the NFL-generating end surface, at least a portion of the propagation edge being opposed to the waveguide with a distance, and the magnetic pole has a surface contact with a surface portion of the NFL-generator including no propagation edge. Therefore, the distance between the magnetic-pole end surface and the NFL-generating end surface becomes zero. The propagation edge is not contacted with the magnetic pole. Accordingly, the surface plasmon can propagate along on the propagation edge without being absorbed by the pole. Thus, the NFL-emission point is ensured to be at the end point of the propagation edge.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic write head includes: a magnetic pole; a pair of side shields on both sides, in a write-track width direction, of the magnetic pole with respective side gaps in between; a trailing shield on a trailing side of the magnetic pole and the pair of side shields with a trailing gap in between. Each of the magnetic pole, the side shield, the trailing shield, the side gap, and the trailing gap has an end face exposed on an air bearing surface. The trailing gap has a first regional part and a second regional part. The first regional part separates a trailing edge of the magnetic pole from the trailing shield, and the second regional part separates the pair of side shields from the trailing shield. All or a part of the second regional part has a thickness larger than a thickness of the first regional part.

Abstract: A main magnetic-pole layer is provided with, at the tip end portion thereof, a trailing shied on the trailing side via a non-magnetic gap layer, and the non-magnetic gap layer includes therein one or more magnetic layers. This magnetic layer appropriately controls the amount of magnetic fluxes coming from the tip end portion of the main magnetic-pole layer for capturing into the trailing shield because the magnetic fluxes coming from the tip end portion of the main magnetic-pole layer go through the magnetic layer before being captured into the trailing shield.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes a reproducing element for reproducing information recorded on a magnetic recording medium, a recording element for recording information on the magnetic recording medium, and a heating resistor. The magnetic head has a magnetic medium-facing surface on which the reproducing element and the recording element are exposed.

Abstract: A thermally-assisted magnetic recording head includes a waveguide, a near-field optical device which emits near-field light from a near-field-light-generating end surface that forms a portion of an opposed-to-medium surface, and a magnetic pole generates write field from its end on the opposed-to-medium surface side. The near-field optical device includes a contact-to-waveguide surface, and a propagation edge configured to propagate there on the surface plasmon excited by the light. A gap between a near-field optical device-opposed surface of the magnetic pole and the propagation edge of the near-field optical device is larger at a section far from the end on the opposed-to-medium surface side than that at a section near the opposed-to-medium surface side.

Abstract: The magnetic read write head has a read head and a write head, each having an end face exposed on an air bearing surface. The write head performs heat assist magnetic recording, and is provided with: a magnetic pole having an end face exposed on the air bearing surface; a waveguide extending toward the air bearing surface to propagate light; and a plasmon generator provided between the magnetic pole and the waveguide, and generating near-field light based on the light propagated through the waveguide to emit the generated near-field light from the air bearing surface. The waveguide is surrounded by a clad layer, and the magnetic pole is in contact with a heat sink having a heat conductivity higher than that of the clad layer. Although the near-field light causes temperature rise, heat energy from the plasmon generator to the magnetic pole is released through the heat sink.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a magnetic head, a head assembly, and a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus which are capable of effectively detecting thermal asperity. The magnetic head according to the present invention includes a heat-generating resistor, a recording coil, and a resistive element. The heat-generating resistor is adapted to generate heat when power is fed thereto so that the heat generation causes at least a part of the air bearing surface to thermally expand and protrude. The recording coil is adapted to generate a recording magnetic field, and the resistive element is disposed closer to the air bearing surface than the recording coil and connected in series or in parallel with the heater. Thus, the resistive element can share a common wiring with the heater for power feeding, which eliminates the waste of wiring and achieves miniaturization.