Abstract: The present invention includes a magnetic sensing structure having a stripe height and a stripe width defining an area for a current flowing therethrough, and at least one electrode positioned adjacent an edge of the magnetic sensing structure for adjustably controlling the stripe width and/or stripe height, and therefore the area (SW×SH), of the magnetic sensing structure through which the current can flow.

Abstract: Multilayer permanent magnet films comprising at least two permanent magnet layers separated by an interlayer are disclosed. In one embodiment, the multilayer permanent magnet film includes an interlayer deposited on a first permanent magnet layer, a seed layer deposited on the interlayer, and a second permanent magnet layer deposited on the seed layer. The permanent magnet layers may comprise a material such as CoPt, while the seed layer may comprise a material such as TiW. The interlayer may comprise a material such as Ta. The multilayer permanent magnet films possess favorable properties such as high magnetic coercivity (Hc) and high remnant magnetization (MR) at thicknesses which yield high magnetic fields. The films may be used in applications such as current perpendicular to the plane (CPP) magnetic sensors in which the multilayer permanent magnet film is used to magnetically bias the sensor.

Abstract: A heat assisted magnetic recording head with a multilayer electromagnetic (EM) radiation emission structure. The multilayer EM radiation emission structure is in optical communication with a light source for heating a recording medium. Particularly, the multilayer EM radiation emission structure includes a conducting layer for receiving the light source and a protective layer formed adjacent the conducting layer to protect the conducting layer from contact with a recording medium. An aperture extends through the conducting layer in the protective layer to allow the light source to pass therethrough to heat the recording medium.

Abstract: A data writing system includes an array of cells for storing data and a write transducer that moves over a selected cell in the array of cells. The write transducer includes a writer producing a write magnetic field that intersects the selected cell. The write transducer also includes a plasmon resonator that is adjacent the writer. The plasmon resonator is shaped to receive lower power density radiation and to provide plasmon radiation at a higher power density to an optical spot intersecting with the selected cell. The plasmon radiation heats the selected cell above a write temperature.

Abstract: A magnetic recording head comprises a write pole having a tip adjacent to an air bearing surface of the recording head, a return pole magnetically coupled to the write pole, a conductor positioned adjacent to an edge of the write pole at the air bearing surface, a first conductive heat sink connected to the conductor, and a second conductive heat sink connected to the conductor, wherein at least a portion of each of the first and second conductive heat sinks is positioned adjacent to the air bearing surface and wherein each of the first and second conductive heat sinks includes a structure for augmenting confinement of a magnetic write field adjacent to the write pole. Magnetic storage devices that include the magnetic recording head are also included.

Abstract: A current-in-plane magnetic sensor comprises a sensor stack including first and second layers of ferromagnetic material, a first nano-oxide layer positioned adjacent to the first layer of ferromagnetic material, and a layer of non-magnetic material positioned between the first and second layers of ferromagnetic material, wherein the thickness of the non-magnetic layer is selected to provide antiferromagnetic coupling between the first and second ferromagnetic layers, a magnetic field source for biasing the directions of magnetization of the first and second layers of ferromagnetic material in directions approximately 90° with respect to each other, a first lead connected to a first end of the sensor stack, and a second lead connected to a second end of the sensor stack. Disc drives that use the current-in-plane magnetic sensor are also included.

Abstract: A magnetic head for generating a magnetic field is provided in which first and second electrical contacts are electrically coupled to a thin film wire. An electrical current is passed between the contacts and through the wire to generate a magnetic field. A focus mechanism is provided to focus the magnetic field and thereby increase the flux density of the magnetic field along a recording edge of the thin film wire.

Abstract: The present invention includes a magnetic sensing structure having a stripe height and a stripe width defining an area for a current flowing therethrough, and at least one electrode positioned adjacent an edge of the magnetic sensing structure for adjustably controlling the stripe width and/or stripe height, and therefore the area (SW×SH), of the magnetic sensing structure through which the current can flow.

Abstract: A deposition system including a shadow mask with one or more apertures, and a method are described for oblique deposition of tilted thin films with azimuthal symmetry. The deposition system is used with physical vapor deposition processes to provide improved control of the angle of incidents of the flux combined with rotation of the substrate to create titled thin films with improved properties compared to conventional oblique deposition techniques.

Abstract: A magnetic recording head includes a write pole having alternating layers of Fe and Co and a return pole magnetically coupled to the write pole. The layers of Fe may have a thickness from about 1.0 angstroms to about 40.0 angstroms and the layers of Co may have a thickness from about 1.0 angstroms to about 20.0 angstroms. The write pole may have a saturation magnetization greater than about 2.45 Tesla. A method for forming a write pole for a magnetic recording head is also disclosed.

Abstract: A giant magnetoresistive (GMR) stack configured to operate in a current-perpendicular-to-plane (CPP) mode includes a ferromagnetic free layer, at least one synthetic antiferromagnet, at least one nonmagnetic spacer layer, and at least one antiferromagnetic pinning layer. The ferromagnetic free layer has a rotatable magnetic moment. The synthetic antiferromagnet includes a ferromagnetic reference layer having a fixed magnetic moment, a ferromagnetic pinned layer having a fixed magnetic moment, and a coupling layer positioned between the reference layer and the pinned layer, wherein the coupling layer is selected from the group consisting of Cu, Ag and CuAg. The nonmagnetic spacer layer is positioned between the free layer and the synthetic antiferromagnet. The antiferromagnetic pinning layer is positioned adjacent to the synthetic antiferromagnet.

Abstract: A read head for use with magnetic recording media having a plurality of magnetic tracks includes a read sensor, first and second magnetic lead shields for improving track resolution, and first and second magnetic shields for improving linear resolution. The read sensor is formed on a side wall of one of the first and second magnetic lead shields using a technique such as ion beam deposition for enhanced film growth rate on the side wall. A magnetic disc drive storage system incorporating the read head and a method of making the read head are also included.

Abstract: A spin valve read element for use with, for example, magnetic recording media, includes a permanent magnet as one of the multilayers that make up the spin valve. The spin valve may also include a pinned ferromagnetic layer, an antiferromagnetic coupling inducing layer, a reference ferromagnetic layer, an electroconductive layer, and/or a free ferromagnetic layer. Epitaxy breaking layers may also be advantageously positioned within the spin valve. The multilayers of the spin valve may be constructed as a current perpendicular to the plane or a current parallel to the plane type spin valve.

Abstract: A magnetic storage media comprises a substrate supporting the layer of magnetic media having a tilted C-axis greater than approximately 25° with respect to surface normal and having a magnetic easy axis tilted at an angle at approximately greater than 30° from the substrate surface normal. The media includes an oblique deposited seedlayer structure directing tilted C-axis growth of the magnetic material layer independent of the angle of deposition of the magnetic material layer. The orientation C-axis and the magnetic easy axis of the media may be organized into circumferential or radial patterns on the substrate surface, and additionally may possess azimuthal symmetry.

Abstract: A heat assisted magnetic recording head with a multilayer electromagnetic (EM) radiation emission structure. The multilayer EM radiation emission structure is in optical communication with a light source for heating a recording medium. Particularly, the multilayer EM radiation emission structure includes a conducting layer for receiving the light source and a protective layer formed adjacent the conducting layer to protect the conducting layer from contact with a recording medium. An aperture extends through the conducting layer in the protective layer to allow the light source to pass therethrough to heat the recording medium.

Abstract: A magnetic head for generating a magnetic field for is provided in which first and second electrical contacts are electrically coupled to a thin film wire. An electrical current is passed between the contacts and through the wire to generate a magnetic field. A focus mechanism is provided to focus the magnetic field and thereby increase the flux density of the magnetic field along a recording edge of the thin film wire.

Abstract: A magnetic recording head includes a write pole having alternating layers of Fe and Co and a return pole magnetically coupled to the write pole. The layers of Fe may have a thickness from about 1.0 angstroms to about 40.0 angstroms and the layers of Co may have a thickness from about 1.0 angstroms to about 20.0 angstroms. The write pole may have a saturation magnetization greater than about 2.45 Tesla. A method for forming a write pole for a magnetic recording head is also disclosed.

Abstract: A spin valve read element for use with, for example, magnetic recording media, includes a permanent magnet as one of the multilayers that make up the spin valve. The spin valve may also include a pinned ferromagnetic layer, an antiferromagnetic coupling inducing layer, a reference ferromagnetic layer, an electroconductive layer, and/or a free ferromagnetic layer. Epitaxy breaking layers may also be advantageously positioned within the spin valve. The multilayers of the spin valve may be constructed as a current perpendicular to the plane or a current parallel to the plane type spin valve.

Abstract: A giant magnetoresistive (GMR) stack configured to operate in a current-perpendicular-to-plane (CPP) mode includes a ferromagnetic free layer, at least one synthetic antiferromagnet, at least one nonmagnetic spacer layer, and at least one antiferromagnetic pinning layer. The ferromagnetic free layer has a rotatable magnetic moment. The synthetic antiferromagnet includes a ferromagnetic reference layer having a fixed magnetic moment, a ferromagnetic pinned layer having a fixed magnetic moment, and a coupling layer positioned between the reference layer and the pinned layer, wherein the coupling layer is selected from the group consisting of Cu, Ag and CuAg. The nonmagnetic spacer layer is positioned between the free layer and the synthetic antiferromagnet. The antiferromagnetic pinning layer is positioned adjacent to the synthetic antiferromagnet.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording head includes a read head having means for generating a magnetic field which reduces noise from a soft magnetic underlayer of a recording medium during operation of the recording head. The means for generating a magnetic field includes a current perpendicular to the plane read sensor of the read head. The electrical current generates a magnetic field which biases the magnetization of the soft magnetic underlayer. By controlling the amount of current or current density that is passed through the read sensor, the magnitude of the magnetic field for biasing the soft magnetic underlayer may be controlled. A method of using a perpendicular magnetic recording head to magnetically bias a soft magnetic underlayer of a recording medium is also disclosed.