Abstract: The present embodiments relate to a heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) write head with an iridium (Ir) film. The Ir film can include a body layer and a plasmon generator (PG) film comprising Iridium with a thin Ir seed layer. The Ir seed layer can be in direct contact with a dielectric (aluminum oxide). The thickness of the Ir film can be 40 nanometers or less including both a body layer and the seed layer. Incorporating Iridium as a material used for a PG can be a high surface plasmon efficient material with also being reliable under high temperature irradiation during a heat-assisted writing process.

Abstract: A near field transducer (NFT) having improved reliability is disclosed. In some embodiments, a NFT includes a resonator body layer having a front side at a first plane that is recessed a first distance from an air bearing surface (ABS), and a peg layer that is a single layer made of a noble metal or alloy thereof. The peg layer includes a peg portion or peg with a front side at the ABS, a back side at the first plane, and two sides aligned orthogonal to the ABS and separated by the first cross-track width. The peg portion or the peg having a single peg grain with or without a desired (111) orientation through laser self-annealing process.

Abstract: A waveguide includes a core and a cladding. The core has an inlet on which light is incident. The core includes a front portion and a rear portion located between the front portion and the inlet. The front portion and the rear portion each have a thickness that is a dimension in a first direction and a width that is a dimension in a second direction. The first direction is orthogonal to a propagation direction of the light. The second direction is orthogonal to the propagation direction of the light and the first direction. The thickness of the front portion decreases with increasing distance from the inlet.

Abstract: A waveguide includes a core and a cladding. The core has an inlet on which light is incident. The core includes a front portion and a rear portion located between the front portion and the inlet. The front portion and the rear portion each have a thickness that is a dimension in a first direction and a width that is a dimension in a second direction. The first direction is orthogonal to a propagation direction of the light. The second direction is orthogonal to the propagation direction of the light and the first direction. The thickness of the front portion decreases with increasing distance from the inlet.

Abstract: A plasmon generator (PG) is formed between a waveguide and main pole, and has a front portion (Au/Rh bilayer) wherein the upper Rh layer has a peg shape at an air bearing surface (ABS), and a tapered backside that is separated from a PG back portion by a dielectric spacer. The lower Au layer has a front side recessed from the ABS and curved sides self-aligned with the Rh layer sides. A key feature is that the back section of lower Au layer curved side forms a smaller angle with a plane aligned orthogonal to the ABS than a front section thereof thereby selectively enabling a deformation of the back end of the Au layer during a heat treatment to >300° C. at the wafer level. Accordingly, the front end of the lower Au layer is densified and provides an improved heat sink to improve reliability and area density capability (ADC).

Abstract: A near field transducer (NFT) with an upper RhIr layer having an Ir content from 20-80 atomic % and a lower Au layer is formed between a waveguide and main pole at an air bearing surface (ABS). The RhIr layer has a rod-like front portion (peg) up to height h1, and a substantially triangular shaped back portion (body) from h1 to height h2. In some embodiments, there is a Rh underlayer with a thickness from 10 Angstroms to 200 Angstroms between the upper and lower NFT layers, and extending from the ABS to h2 so that the RhIr layer has a substantially uniform microcrystalline structure throughout to prevent thermally induced rupture defects proximate to h1. Optionally, the Rh underlayer may have a front side at h1, and may further comprise a lower Al or Zr adhesion layer. Accordingly, there is improved device reliability.

Abstract: A near field transducer (NFT) is formed between a waveguide and main pole at an air bearing surface (ABS). The NFT includes a rod-like front portion (PG1) and a substantially triangular shaped back portion (PG2) with a dielectric separation layer therebetween. PG1 is formed on a first dielectric layer with thickness t1 and refractive index (RI1) while PG2 is on a second dielectric layer with thickness t2 and having refractive index (RI2) where t1>t2, and RI1>RI2 while PG1 has a tapered backside at angle 45+15 degrees to promote efficient energy transfer from PG2 to PG1 and reduce NFT heating. A dielectric layer that induces poor adhesion with PG1 may be inserted between below PG1 at the ABS to cause Au recession to occur at the PG1 leading side thereby preventing voids at the PG1 trailing side and ensuring good ADC performance.

Abstract: A light source unit for thermally-assisted magnetic head includes a substrate member having a bonding surface, multiple layers formed on the bonding surface and comprising a base layer, a connection pad layer, an insulation layer and a bonding layer; a light source assembly attached on the bonding layer of the substrate member and having a laser diode embedded therein and connected to the connection pad layer on the bonding surface, so as to form a laser diode circuit; and a heater buried in the insulation layer and connected to the connection pad layer, so as to form a heater circuit. The light source unit can maintain stable heat power for facilitating performance of the thermally-assisted magnetic head, and further reduce the sizes of the light source unit and substrate member.

Abstract: A TAMR (thermally assisted magnetic recording) write head uses a gap-based NFT (near-field transducer) to create plasmon near field energy. In one embodiment the NFT is a double ridge aperture structure that simultaneously delivers low transition curvature and better cross-track thermal gradients than previous designs. In another embodiment a NFT comprises a top and bottom ridge not confined to an aperture structure, made of thermo-mechanically stable materials and a parabolic shaped metal layer disposed adjacent to a dielectric waveguide core to couple optical energy to surface plasmon modes.

Abstract: A TAMR (thermally assisted magnetic recording) write head uses a gap-based NFT (near-field transducer) to create plasmon near field energy. In one embodiment the NFT is a double ridge aperture structure that simultaneously delivers low transition curvature and better cross-track thermal gradients than previous designs. In another embodiment a NFT comprises a top and bottom ridge not confined to an aperture structure, made of thermo-mechanically stable materials and a parabolic shaped metal layer disposed adjacent to a dielectric waveguide core to couple optical energy to surface plasmon modes.

Abstract: A plasmon generator generates surface plasmon and generates near-field light from the surface plasmon at a distal end surface situated on an air bearing surface facing a magnetic recording medium. The plasmon generator has a first portion including the distal end surface, a second portion situated away from the air bearing surface, and a separating layer situated between the first portion and the second portion and separating the first portion from the second portion.

Abstract: A laser annealing method that includes forming a second layer having through holes on a first layer, and radiating laser light with a wavelength of 3 ?m or greater to the first layer via the through holes.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of laser diode unit of the present invention includes steps: placing a laser diode on top of a solder member formed on a mounting surface of a submount, applying a pressing load to the laser diode and pressing the laser diode against the solder member, next, melting the solder member by heating the solder member at a temperature higher than a melting point of the solder member while the pressing load is being applied, and thereafter, bonding the laser diode to the submount by cooling and solidifying the solder member, thereafter, removing the pressing load, and softening the solidified solder member by heating the solder member at a temperature lower than the melting point of the solder member after the pressing load has been removed, and thereafter cooling and re-solidifying the solder member.

Abstract: A thermal assisted magnetic recording head that performs magnetic recording while locally heating a magnetic recording medium includes: a plasmon generator that generates a surface plasmon and that generates near-field light from the surface plasmon on a front end surface positioned on an air bearing surface opposing the magnetic recording medium; a dielectric body layer positioned around the plasmon generator; and an adhesion layer positioned between the plasmon generator and the dielectric body layer. The adhesion layer is made from at least one of IrOx, RuOx, NiOx and CoOx.

Abstract: A thermal assisted magnetic recording head that performs magnetic recording while locally heating a magnetic recording medium includes: a plasmon generator that generates a surface plasmon and that generates near-field light from the surface plasmon on a front end surface positioned on an air bearing surface opposing the magnetic recording medium; a dielectric body layer positioned around the plasmon generator; and an adhesion layer positioned between the plasmon generator and the dielectric body layer. The adhesion layer is made from at least one of IrOx, RuOx, NiOx and CoOx.

Abstract: A plasmon generator generates surface plasmon and generates near-field light from the surface plasmon at a distal end surface situated on an air bearing surface facing a magnetic recording medium. The plasmon generator has a first portion including the distal end surface, a second portion situated away from the air bearing surface, and a separating layer situated between the first portion and the second portion and separating the first portion from the second portion.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electronic device includes a positioning step of positioning a first member supporting a laser diode with respect to a second member having a waveguide, a bonding step of bonding the first member and the second member together, and a checking step of checking the accuracy of positioning of the first member with respect to the second member. In the positioning step, the laser diode is energized to allow laser light to be emitted, and the laser light is allowed to be incident on the incidence end of the waveguide. In the bonding step, a bonding material is melted by irradiating the first member with heating light while the laser diode is not energized. In the checking step, the laser diode is energized again.

Abstract: A thermal assisted magnetic recording head executing magnetic recording while locally heating a magnetic recording medium includes a plasmon generator generating surface plasmon and generating near-field light from the surface plasmon at an end surface situated on an air bearing surface facing the magnetic recording medium, a main pole being in contact with the plasmon generator and exposed on the air bearing surface, a metal protective layer situated on an opposite side to the plasmon generator when viewed from the main pole and positioned to overlap with a part of the main pole when viewed from one side in a down track direction, and an overcoat protective layer covering the metal protective layer. The overcoat protective layer is formed on a flat surface at least at a position where it overlaps with the main pole when viewed from one side in the down track direction, and the metal protective layer configures a part of the flat surface.

Abstract: A plasmon generator generates a surface plasmon, and generates a near-field light from the surface plasmon on a front end surface positioned on an air bearing surface opposing to a magnetic recording medium. The plasmon generator has a first surface that is adjacent to the front end surface and that faces a lower layer where the plasmon generator is deposited, and a second surface at the back side of the first surface relative to a down track direction. The first surface tilts toward a surface that is orthogonal to the down track direction, and, is parallel to across track direction, and the plasmon generator is deposited with a (111) orientation from the first surface toward the second surface.

Abstract: A light source unit has a substrate, a light source that is mounted to the substrate. The light source includes; a first emission part that emits a forward light, the forward light being a laser light in an oscillation state; a second emission part that is located on a side opposite to the first emission part and that emits a rearward light, the rearward light being a laser light in an oscillation state; and a light leakage part located at a position different from the first emission part and the second emission part. The light source further includes a photodetector that is provided on the substrate, wherein the photodetector has a light receiving surface for detecting a leakage light that leaks from the light leakage part.