Abstract: Various embodiments described herein provide for substrate structures including uniform plating seed layers, and that provide favorable adhesion on dielectric substrate layers. According to some embodiments, a methods for forming a magnetic recording pole is provided comprising: forming an insulator layer; forming a trench in the insulator layer; forming an amorphous seed layer over the insulator layer; forming an adhesion layer over the amorphous seed layer, the adhesion layer comprising a physical vapor deposited (PVD) noble metal; forming a plating seed layer over the adhesion layer, the plating seed layer comprising chemical vapor deposited (CVD) Ru; and forming a magnetic material layer over the plating seed layer.

Abstract: A method of forming a wrapped-around shielded perpendicular magnetic recording writer pole is disclosed. A structure comprising a leading shield layer and an intermediate layer disposed over the leading shield layer is provided, the intermediate layer comprising a pole material and a dielectric material. A trench is formed in the dielectric material. A non-magnetic layer in the trench is removed via an ion beam etching process. A seed layer is deposited in the trench and over the pole material. A magnetic material comprising a side shield layer is deposited on at least a portion of the seed layer.

Abstract: A method provides a magnetic transducer having an air-bearing surface (ABS) location. An intermediate layer having a substantially flat bottom surface is provided. A trench is formed in the intermediate layer. The trench is wider in yoke region than in the pole tip region. The trench has a first depth in the yoke region and a second depth less than the first depth in the pole tip region. A portion of the intermediate layer is at the bottom of the trench at the ABS location. A nonmagnetic layer is provided. The nonmagnetic layer fills part of the trench in the pole tip region such that the trench has a third depth less than the second depth at the ABS location. A main pole is provided. The main pole has a leading bevel adjacent to nonmagnetic layer in the portion of the pole tip region of the trench.

Abstract: A method and system provide a shingle magnetic write transducer. The transducer has an air-bearing surface (ABS) and includes a main pole and at least one coil. The coil(s) are configured to energize the main pole. The main pole includes a leading surface, a trailing surface, and a plurality of sides between the leading surface and the trailing surface. At least one of the plurality of sides form a sidewall angle with a down track direction. The sidewall angle is less than thirteen degrees and is at least zero degrees. In some aspects, the sidewall angle is less than a maximum skew angle for the data storage system.

Abstract: Various embodiments described herein provide for substrate structures including uniform plating seed layers, and that provide favorable adhesion on dielectric substrate layers. According to some embodiments, a methods for forming a magnetic recording pole is provided comprising: forming an insulator layer; forming a trench in the insulator layer; forming an amorphous seed layer over the insulator layer; forming an adhesion layer over the amorphous seed layer, the adhesion layer comprising a physical vapor deposited (PVD) noble metal; forming a plating seed layer over the adhesion layer, the plating seed layer comprising chemical vapor deposited (CVD) Ru; and forming a magnetic material layer over the plating seed layer.

Abstract: A magnetic recording transducer for use in a data storage device is described. The transducer has a main writer pole and magnetic shields adjacent to the main writer pole. The magnetic shields include a first plated soft ferromagnetic layer, a second plated soft ferromagnetic layer, and an antiferromagnetic coupling (AFC) trilayer between the first plated soft ferromagnetic layer and the second plated soft ferromagnetic layer. The AFC trilayer includes a first AFC layer of sputtered ferromagnetic material; a second AFC layer of a nonmagnetic antiferromagnetic exchange material, and a third AFC layer of sputtered ferromagnetic material. Shields with AFC trilayers in leading, side, and/or trailing shields, as well as between shields are provided. A method of fabricating is also provided.

Abstract: A method fabricates a magnetic transducer. A sacrificial leading shield is provided on an etch stop layer. A nonmagnetic layer is provided on the sacrificial leading shield. A pole trench is formed in the nonmagnetic layer and on the sacrificial leading shield. A pole is formed. The pole has a bottom and a top wider than the bottom in a pole tip region. Part of the pole in the pole tip region is in the pole trench and at the ABS location. The sacrificial leading shield and part of the nonmagnetic layer adjacent to the pole are removed. An air bridge thus resides in place of the sacrificial leading shield between the portion of the pole and the etch stop layer. As least one shield layer is provided. The at least one shield layer substantially fills the air bridge and form a monolithic shield including a leading and side shields.

Abstract: A method or forming a wrapped-around shielded perpendicular magnetic recording writer pole is disclosed. A structure comprising a leading shield layer and an intermediate layer disposed over the leading shield layer is provided, the intermediate layer comprising a pole material and a dielectric material. A trench is formed in the dielectric material. A non-magnetic layer in the trench is removed via an ion beam etching process. A seed layer is deposited in the trench and over the pole material. A magnetic material comprising a side shield layer is deposited on at least a portion of the seed layer.

Abstract: A dual spin-valve magnetoresistive sensor includes a free ferromagnetic layer and first and second nonmagnetic conductive spacers adjacent to opposing first and second surfaces of the free layer, respectively. A pinned ferromagnetic layer consisting of a single-film ferromagnetic layer is adjacent to the first spacer and a laminated pinned ferromagnetic structure is adjacent to the second spacer. The laminated structure includes first and second pinned ferromagnetic films separated by a film that provides antiferromagnetic coupling. First and second antiferromagnetic layers can be provided adjacent to the pinned ferromagnetic layer and the laminated pinned structure, respectively. The sensor can be incorporated, for example, into a magnetic storage system.