Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic recording head comprises a near-field transducer (NFT). The NFT comprises a near-field emitter configured to heat a surface of a magnetic disk, and a hybrid plasmonic disk. The hybrid plasmonic disk comprises a plasmonic region and a thermal region. The plasmonic region comprises a first material or alloy that is a plasmonic material or alloy. The thermal region comprises a second material or alloy that is different than the first material or alloy.

Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic recording head comprises a near-field transducer (NFT). The NFT comprises a near-field emitter configured to heat a surface of a magnetic disk, and a hybrid plasmonic disk. The hybrid plasmonic disk comprises a plasmonic region and a thermal region. The plasmonic region comprises a first material or alloy that is a plasmonic material or alloy. The thermal region comprises a second material or alloy that is different than the first material or alloy.

Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic recording head comprises a near-field transducer (NFT). The NFT comprises a near-field emitter configured to heat a surface of a magnetic disk, and a hybrid plasmonic disk. The hybrid plasmonic disk comprises a plasmonic region and a thermal region. The plasmonic region comprises a first material or alloy that is a plasmonic material or alloy. The thermal region comprises a second material or alloy that is different than the first material or alloy.

Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic recording head includes a near-field transducer (NFT). The NFT includes a near-field emitter configured to heat a surface of a magnetic disk, and a plasmonic disk. The plasmonic disk is coupled to the near-field emitter and includes rhodium or iridium.

Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic recording head includes a near-field transducer (NFT). The NFT includes a near-field emitter configured to heat a surface of a magnetic disk, and a heat sink. The heat sink includes at least one of rhodium, copper, tungsten, tantalum, iridium, platinum, ruthenium, nickel, or iron.

Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic recording head includes a near-field transducer (NFT). The NFT includes a near-field emitter configured to heat a surface of a magnetic disk, and a plasmonic disk. The plasmonic disk is coupled to the near-field emitter and includes rhodium or iridium.

Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic recording head includes a near-field transducer (NFT). The NFT includes a near-field emitter configured to heat a surface of a magnetic disk, and a heat sink. The heat sink includes at least one of rhodium, copper, tungsten, tantalum, iridium, platinum, ruthenium, nickel, or iron.

Abstract: A recording head has a waveguide that delivers optical energy from an energy source and a write pole extending to a media-facing surface of the recording head. The recording head also has a near-field transducer coupled to receive the optical energy from the waveguide and emit surface plasmons from the media-facing surface towards a recording medium while the write pole applies a magnetic field to the recording medium. The near-field transducer has an extended portion that, as-manufactured, protrudes beyond the media-facing surface by a first distance.

Abstract: Devices that include a write pole; a near field transducer (NFT) that includes a peg and a disk, wherein the peg is at the ABS of the device; and a diffusion barrier layer positioned between the write pole and the peg of the NFT, the diffusion barrier layer including metals, nitrides, oxides, carbides, silicides, or amorphous material.

Abstract: Devices having an air bearing surface (ABS), the devices include a write pole; a near field transducer (NFT) including a peg and a disc, wherein the peg is at the ABS of the device; an overcoat, the overcoat including a low surface energy layer.

Abstract: Devices that have an air bearing surface (ABS), the device includes a near field transducer (NFT) that includes a disc configured to convert photons incident thereon into plasmons; and a peg configured to couple plasmons coupled from the disc into an adjacent magnetic storage medium, wherein the disc includes a disc material that includes gold or an alloy thereof and the peg includes a peg material, wherein the disc material is different from the peg material and wherein the peg material has a real part of the permittivity that is not greater than that of gold.

Abstract: Methods that include forming at least a portion of a near field transducer (NFT) structure; depositing a material onto at least one surface of the portion of the NFT to form a metal containing layer; and subjecting the metal containing layer to conditions that cause diffusion of at least a portion of the material into the at least one surface of the portion of the NFT; and devices formed thereby.

Abstract: The embodiments disclose a stack feature of a stack configured to confine optical fields within and to a patterned plasmonic underlayer in the stack configured to guide light from a light source to regulate optical coupling.

Abstract: Devices having an air bearing surface (ABS), the devices include a write pole; a near field transducer (NFT) including a peg and a disc, wherein the peg is at the ABS of the device; an overcoat, the overcoat including a low surface energy layer.

Abstract: Devices having an air bearing surface (ABS), the devices include a write pole; a near field transducer (NFT) including a peg and a disc, wherein the peg is at the ABS of the device; an overcoat, the overcoat including a low surface energy layer.

Abstract: Devices having an air bearing surface (ABS), the devices include a write pole; a near field transducer (NFT) including a peg and a disc, wherein the peg is at the ABS of the device; an overcoat, the overcoat including a low surface energy layer.

Abstract: Devices having air bearing surfaces (ABS), the devices include a near field transducer (NFT) that includes a disc configured to convert photons incident thereon into plasmons; and a peg configured to couple plasmons coupled from the disc into an adjacent magnetic storage medium, wherein the disc includes a disc material and the peg includes a peg material, wherein the disc material is different from the peg material and wherein the disc material has a first real part of the permittivity and a peg material has a second real part of the permittivity and the second real part of the permittivity is not greater than the first real part of the permittivity.

Abstract: Devices that include a near field transducer (NFT); an amorphous gas barrier layer positioned on at least a portion of the NFT; and a wear resistance layer positioned on at least a portion of the gas barrier layer.

Abstract: Devices that have an air bearing surface (ABS), the device includes a near field transducer (NFT) that includes a disc configured to convert photons incident thereon into plasmons; and a peg configured to couple plasmons coupled from the disc into an adjacent magnetic storage medium, wherein the disc includes a disc material that includes gold or an alloy thereof and the peg includes a peg material, wherein the disc material is different from the peg material and wherein the peg material has a real part of the permittivity that is not greater than that of gold.

Abstract: Methods that include forming at least a portion of a near field transducer (NFT) structure; depositing a material onto at least one surface of the portion of the NFT to form a metal containing layer; and subjecting the metal containing layer to conditions that cause diffusion of at least a portion of the material into the at least one surface of the portion of the NFT; and devices formed thereby.