Abstract: A magnetic recording medium in which information can be recorded using a heat-assisted magnetic recording method comprises a recording layer formed on a substrate. The recording layer has a plurality of magnetic recording bit regions and a plurality of high thermal conductors each extending inside a corresponding one of the bit regions. The high thermal conductors have a thermal conductivity higher than that of the recording layer and assist in dissipating heat energy imparted to the bit regions during the recording of information.

Abstract: A U-shaped groove and a V-shaped groove are formed onto a cladding disposed on a substrate, a core and a metal structure are formed inside the grooves, respectively, and then the substrate surface is planarized. Further, after a cladding is formed again, the substrate is cut and the cut surface is polished such that the metal structure inside the V-shaped groove has a predetermined thickness, thereby forming a scattering body.

Abstract: A near-field light head of the present invention includes: a slider disposed opposite to a surface of the magnetic recording medium; a recording element that includes a main magnetic pole generating the recording magnetic field and a subsidiary magnetic pole, the recording element being fixed to an apical surface of the slider so that the main magnetic pole and the subsidiary magnetic pole line up in a longitudinal direction of the slider in the state where the subsidiary magnetic pole is located at the apical surface of the slider; a near-field light generating element, fixed adjacently to the main magnetic pole in a state where another end side thereof is directed to the magnetic recording medium, that propagates the light flux introduced from one end side thereof toward the other end side to generate the near-field light, and radiates the near-field light from the other end side to the outside; and a light flux introducing device, fixed to the slider, that introduces the light flux from the one end side in

Abstract: A near-field light generating element has a core that propagates light flux from a light incident side to a light emission side while focusing the propagating light flux. A near-field light generating portion in the form of a metal film generates near-field light from the light flux. The core includes a first core, and a second core covering a side surface of the first core, and the core is formed in a polygonal shape when viewed from a Z direction. The metal film is placed on a side surface in the core, and is formed so that a width of an interface between the metal film and the core is narrower than a width of the side surface of the core.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a near-field light generating element includes a first cladding forming process of forming a first cladding on a substrate, a near-field light generation portion forming process of forming a metal film base material on the first cladding, a core forming process of forming a core base material so as to cover the metal film base material, a single patterning process of collectively patterning the core base material and the metal film base material to form the core and the metal film, respectively, and a second cladding forming process of forming a second cladding so as to interpose the core between the second cladding and the first cladding.

Abstract: A head gimbal assembly has a flexure forming a part of a suspension configured to extend along a surface of a recording medium. A flexible substrate is provided on the flexure. A slider is mounted onto at least a part of the flexible substrate so as to oppose the surface of the recording medium, and is configured to generate near field light from an introduced light flux. A light supply portion is mounted on the flexure and is provided between the flexure and the slider. The flexible substrate has an end surface forming a mirror surface that faces an end surface of the light supply portion and is inclined with respect to an optical axis of the light supply portion. The light supply portion is optically coupled to the slider via the mirror surface of the flexible substrate.

Abstract: An information recording and reproduction apparatus has a magnetic recording medium and a carriage that undergoes rotational movement about a pivot shaft and has a base portion and an arm portion extending from the base portion and along a surface of the medium. A light source that emits a light beam to heat the medium is mounted on the base portion and is disposed closer to the pivot shaft than the arm portion. The arm portion supports a slider confronting the surface of the medium and being configured to receive a light beam from the light source. The slider has an optical system which condenses the light beam and a spot light generating element which generates from the condensed light beam spot light that heats the medium for recording information on the medium while causing magnetization reversal by applying a recording magnetic field to the medium.

Abstract: An information recording and reproduction apparatus has a magnetic recording medium, a light source that outputs a light beam to heat the medium, and a near-field light head confronting a surface of the medium. An optical waveguide introduces a light beam from the light source into the head to generate near-field light. A control section supplies a current to a recording element of the head for generating a recording magnetic field in a direction of the medium. A photoelectric composite wiring line has the optical waveguide and electric wiring lines integral with the optical waveguide. The optical waveguide is arranged between the electric wiring lines. The optical waveguide and the electric wiring line branch off from a distal side of the photoelectric composite wiring line so that the optical waveguide is routed to a base end surface of the near-field light head in a state extending approximately linearly.

Abstract: A metal film is included which is placed between a core and a cladding, propagates a laser beam along an interface between the core and the cladding, and generates a near-field light from the laser beam. The metal film has a base portion placed on one side surface of the core along a propagation direction of the laser beam facing from one end side toward the other end side, and an extending portion extended from the other end side of the base portion to the other end side in the propagation direction rather than the core. The other end side of the extending portion is exposed to the outside, and is formed with a top portion projected toward the core side when viewed from the propagation direction.

Abstract: An information recording and reproduction apparatus has a magnetic recording medium, a light source that outputs a light beam to heat the medium, and a near-field light head confronting a surface of the medium. An optical waveguide introduces a light beam from the light source into the near-field light head to generate near-field light. A control section supplies a current to a recording element of the near-field light head for generating a recording magnetic field in a direction of the medium. A photoelectric composite wiring line has the optical waveguide and at least one electric wiring line integral with the optical waveguide and electrically connecting the near-field light head to the control section. The optical waveguide and the electric wiring line branch off from a distal side of the photoelectric composite wiring line so as to connect to the near-field light head.

Abstract: A production apparatus is provided for producing a near field optical head that includes, during its production process, a substrate, at least one protuberance extending from a surface of the substrate, an electrically conductive shielding film covering the protuberance and the substrate, and a parent film, as a mother material for an air bearing, covering the shielding film. The production apparatus has an etchant for etching the parent film and a container for storing the etchant and for containing the substrate, the shielding film, and the parent film so that the substrate, the shielding film, and the parent film are immersed in the etchant. At least one electrode is fixedly mounted in the container so as to be immersed in the etchant. A measuring device measures an electrical characteristic between the electrode and the shielding film.

Abstract: A head gimbal assembly comprises a slider having reproduction/reproducing elements for reproducing and recording information to/from a surface of a recording medium. A suspension flexibly supports the slider opposite to a surface of a recording medium. A light source is disposed on the suspension for emitting a light beam. An optical waveguide is disposed between the slider and the laser light source for introducing a light beam from the light source into the slider.

Abstract: A near-field light generating element has a core that guides a laser light in a direction of a disk while reflecting the laser light, and a cladding that encapsulates the core in an inner portion, and lengths of a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction of an incident side end surface of the laser light in the core are formed so as to match the lengths of a long axis direction and a short axis direction of the laser light that is entered to the core.

Abstract: A near field optical head includes a slider 20, a main magnetic pole 32 and an auxiliary magnetic pole 30 and is provided with a recording element 21 fixed on a top end surface of the slider. The near field optical head is provided with a light flux transmission element 22. The light flux transmission element 22 is fixed adjacently to the main magnetic pole and formed from a flat surface 40a and a curved surface 40b into the shape of a half column. The light flux transmission element 22 includes a core 40 for transmitting a light flux L introduced from one end to the other end and a cladding 41 for confining therein the core.

Abstract: A near-field optical head includes: a near-field light generating element, formed on a counter surface of a slider facing the surface of a magnetic recording medium and having two or more side surfaces each of which are in contact with the counter surface at a certain angle with the counter surface, for generating the near-field light; at least one lower wiring formed on at least one of the side surfaces of the near-field light generating element; a thin-film-like magnetic pole disposed to a position covering the lower wiring; at least one upper wiring disposed on one of the two sides of the magnetic pole, opposite to the side on which the lower wiring is disposed; at least one side surface wiring connecting the lower wiring and the upper wiring; insulating layers insulating each of the lower wiring, the magnetic pole, and the upper wiring from the others; and a coil wound around the magnetic pole by connecting the lower wiring and the upper wiring alternately and serially using the side surface wiring.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a near-field optical head. A first projection shaped in a quadrangular pyramid is formed on a surface of a substrate for providing a near-field optical element of the near-field optical head. A second projection shaped in a frustum of quadrangular pyramid is formed on the surface of the substrate for providing an air bearing surface of the near-field optical head. A metal film is formed on at least one surface of the first projection and the metal film is connected with a resistance meter through a conduction wiring for detecting an electrical resistance of the metal film. The first and second projections and the metal film are polished while the resistance meter detects an electrical resistance of the metal film and until the detected electrical resistance reaches a predetermined value such that a top surface of the first projection has a specified size and becomes flush with a surface of the second projection providing the air bearing surface.

Abstract: A recording head has a conical tip disposed at a distal end thereof configured to oppose a surface of a medium. The conical tip has an opening for generating near-field light and a side surface forming at least a part of an edge portion of the conical tip surrounding the opening. A magnetic recording element generates magnetization inversion in a minute area on the surface of the medium which is heated by application of the near-field light. The magnetic recording element has a main magnetic pole, a secondary magnetic pole, and a dielectric film arranged between the main and secondary magnetic poles. The main magnetic pole comprises a thin film arranged on side surface of the conical tip for providing a magnetic field to the surface of the medium in a substantially vertical direction. The secondary magnetic pole is arranged on a surface of the conical tip opposite to the side surface thereof for absorbing a part of the magnetic field provided from the main magnetic pole.

Abstract: A recording layer is formed on a substrate, and a high thermal conductor having a thermal conductivity higher than that of the recording layer is disposed inside a plurality of recording bit regions constituting the recording layer, respectively. Furthermore, the recording layer is formed with a separating portion which divides the recording layer into the plurality of recording bit regions. The separating layer is filled with a low thermal conductor having a thermal conductivity lower than that of the recording layer.

Abstract: A near field light generating element has a polyhedron core and a clad covering the core so as to contact side surfaces of the core. The polyhedron core has a reflection surface that reflects a luminous flux in a direction different from a direction of introduction of the luminous flux via one end side of the near field light generating element. A luminous flux condensing unit condenses the luminous flux reflected by the reflection surface and propagates the condensed luminous flux to the another end side. A near field light generation unit generates near field light from the propagated condensed luminous flux and emits the near field light to the exterior of the near field light generating element via the another end side. The near field light generation unit has an end surface that is exposed to the exterior on the another end side and has at least one side surface that is shielded by a light-shielding film.

Abstract: A metal film is included which is placed between a core and a cladding, propagates a laser beam along an interface between the core and the cladding, and generates a near-field light from the laser beam. The metal film has a base portion placed on one side surface of the core along a propagation direction of the laser beam facing from one end side toward the other end side, and an extending portion extended from the other end side of the base portion to the other end side in the propagation direction rather than the core. The other end side of the extending portion is exposed to the outside, and is formed with a top portion projected toward the core side when viewed from the propagation direction.