Abstract: A HAMR data storage device may include a magnetic media and a slider comprising: a main pole, a waveguide, and a near-field transducer (NFT) situated between the main pole and the waveguide, wherein an air-bearing surface (ABS) of the slider comprises a transparent overcoat layer situated over the main pole, the waveguide, and the NFT, and wherein the transparent overcoat layer has a particular thickness such that, during an operational phase of the HAMR data storage device, a gap between a media-facing surface of the transparent overcoat layer and the magnetic media is less than about 0.5 nm.

Abstract: A HAMR data storage device may include a magnetic media and a slider comprising: a main pole, a waveguide, and a near-field transducer (NFT) situated between the main pole and the waveguide, wherein an air-bearing surface (ABS) of the slider comprises a transparent overcoat layer situated over the main pole, the waveguide, and the NFT, and wherein the transparent overcoat layer has a particular thickness such that, during an operational phase of the HAMR data storage device, a gap between a media-facing surface of the transparent overcoat layer and the magnetic media is less than about 0.5 nm.

Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) head has a protective multilayer confined to a window of the disk-facing surface of the slider that surrounds the near-field transducer (NFT) end and write pole end. The protective multilayer is made up of a first film of silicon nitride directly on and in contact with the NFT end and the write pole end and a second film of a metal oxide on and in contact with the silicon nitride film. The silicon nitride film is preferably formed by RIBD but is thin enough so that it does not contain any significant amount of other compounds. The metal oxide is preferably silicon dioxide, or alternatively an oxide of hafnium, tantalum, yttrium or zirconium, and together with the silicon nitride film provides a protective multilayer of sufficient thickness to be optically transparent to radiation and resistant to thermal oxidation.

Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) head has a protective multilayer confined to a window of the disk-facing surface of the slider that surrounds the near-field transducer (NFT) end and write pole end. The protective multilayer is made up of a first film of silicon nitride directly on and in contact with the NFT end and the write pole end and a second film of a metal oxide on and in contact with the silicon nitride film. The silicon nitride film is preferably formed by RIBD but is thin enough so that it does not contain any significant amount of other compounds. The metal oxide is preferably silicon dioxide, or alternatively an oxide of hafnium, tantalum, yttrium or zirconium, and together with the silicon nitride film provides a protective multilayer of sufficient thickness to be optically transparent to radiation and resistant to thermal oxidation.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to slider assemblies for magnetic heads of magnetic recording devices. In one aspect, a slider assembly for magnetic recording devices includes a slider and an anti-reflection coating (ARC) structure disposed on the slider. The ARC structure includes an outer surface facing away from the slider, and a recess extending into the outer surface to define a recessed surface. The slider assembly includes a soldered structure disposed on the recessed surface and at least partially in the recess of the ARC structure. In one aspect, a method of forming a slider assembly includes forming an anti-reflection coating (ARC) structure on a slider. The ARC structure includes an outer surface facing away from the slider. The method includes forming a recess in the ARC structure, and forming a solder structure on a recessed surface and at least partially in the recess of the ARC structure.

Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) head has a protective multilayer confined to a window of the disk-facing surface of the slider that surrounds the near-field transducer (NFT) end and write pole end. The protective multilayer is made up of a first film of silicon nitride directly on and in contact with the NFT end and the write pole end and a second film of a metal oxide on and in contact with the silicon nitride film. The silicon nitride film is preferably formed by RIBD but is thin enough so that it does not contain any significant amount of other compounds. The metal oxide is preferably silicon dioxide, or alternatively an oxide of hafnium, tantalum, yttrium or zirconium, and together with the silicon nitride film provides a protective multilayer of sufficient thickness to be optically transparent to radiation and resistant to thermal oxidation.

Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) write head has a write pole with a chemically-passivated end that substantially prevents oxidation and thus improves corrosion resistance of the write pole. The write pole and near-field transducer (NFT) are supported on a slider and have their ends in a window region of the slider's disk-facing surface. The outer surface region of the write pole is chemically-passivated, preferably by exposure to a nitrogen plasma. The nitrogen plasma has no effect on the NFT end or on the magnetoresistive read head, which is protected because it is located in a non-window region of the slider's disk-facing surface. An optically transparent protective film is formed in the window over the passivated write pole end and NFT end.

Abstract: Overlayers for coating diamond-like carbon (DLC) films are disclosed for use with DLC films employed on the sliders of hard disk drives, such as the sliders of heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) or energy assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) drives. In some illustrative examples, the overlayer is formed of an oxide, such as hafnium dioxide or tantalum pentoxide. A buffer layer formed, for example, of silicon nitride is interposed between the oxide overlayer and the DLC film. The oxide layer is provided to prevent oxidation of the DLC film during HAMR so as to maintain thermal stability of the DLC film and prevent a loss of optical transparency at the laser wavelengths of HAMR. The buffer layer is provided to prevent chemical mixing of the oxide overlayer and the DLC film. In other examples, an overlayer formed of silicon nitride is formed directly on the DLC film with no buffer layer.

Abstract: A method of providing an apparatus with a protective layer by simultaneously depositing carbon and seed material on the apparatus to form an intermediate layer, wherein the carbon and seed material have a percentage composition that varies as a function of the intermediate layer thickness; and then providing a diamond-like carbon (DLC) layer adjacent to the intermediate layer to produce the protective layer.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes a slider defining an air bearing surface (ABS) and having a trailing face approximately orthogonal to the ABS. A transducer is disposed on the trailing face and includes a reader and a writer. The writer comprises a non-ferromagnetic writer encapsulate material, and includes a ferromagnetic write pole embedded in the non-ferromagnetic writer encapsulate material. The reader comprises a non-ferromagnetic reader encapsulate material, and includes a magnetoresistive sensor stack embedded in the non-ferromagnetic reader encapsulate material. The magnetic head further includes a novel dual overcoat having a writer overcoat material disposed on the writer, and a reader overcoat material disposed on the reader. The reader overcoat material comprises diamond-like carbon (DLC), and the writer overcoat material does not comprise DLC. An example method for fabricating the novel dual overcoat is also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for tuning seed layer hardness in components of magnetic recording systems are described. One such system includes a substrate including a component of a magnetic recording system, a first deposition source configured to deposit a seed layer material on a portion of a top surface of the substrate at a first angle, and a second deposition source configured to deposit a carbon material including sp3 carbon bonds on the portion of the top surface at a second angle not equal to the first angle, where the first deposition source and the second deposition source deposit the seed layer material and the carbon material, respectively, simultaneously. The component can be a slider or a magnetic medium.

Abstract: Systems and methods for tuning seed layer hardness in components of magnetic recording systems are described. One such system includes a substrate including a component of a magnetic recording system, a first deposition source configured to deposit a seed layer material on a portion of a top surface of the substrate at a first angle, and a second deposition source configured to deposit a carbon material including sp3 carbon bonds on the portion of the top surface at a second angle not equal to the first angle, where the first deposition source and the second deposition source deposit the seed layer material and the carbon material, respectively, simultaneously. The component can be a slider or a magnetic medium.

Abstract: Systems and methods for tuning seed layer hardness in components of magnetic recording systems are described. One such system includes a substrate including a component of a magnetic recording system, a first deposition source configured to deposit a seed layer material on a portion of a top surface of the substrate at a first angle, and a second deposition source configured to deposit a carbon material including sp3 carbon bonds on the portion of the top surface at a second angle not equal to the first angle, where the first deposition source and the second deposition source deposit the seed layer material and the carbon material, respectively, simultaneously. The component can be a slider or a magnetic medium.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing workpiece overcoats is described.