Abstract: A disk drive for storing information representing data includes a base, a spindle rotatably attached to the base, and a plurality of disks having magnetizable disk surfaces attached to the spindle. The disk drive also includes a plurality of read/write transducers for writing to and reading from the plurality of magnetizable disk surfaces, and a cover attached to the base. The cover and base form a substantially sealed disk enclosure. The disk enclosure is substantially filled with a mixture of gases including an oxygen portion in the range of 0.1-3% of the mixture, and a low-density gas portion.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a magnetic disk includes rotating a magnetic disk, supporting a floating head on the rotating magnetic disk, the floating head having a slider body and an element unit formed on a trailing edge of the slider body, contacting a floating surface of the slider body with the magnetic disk, and protruding a portion of the floating head toward the magnetic disk due to application of power to a heater element within the element unit, wherein the element unit is positioned away from the magnetic disk. In another embodiment, a floating head includes a slider body comprising AlTiC, an element unit positioned on a trailing edge of the slider body, the element unit having an initial recess amount of at least about 4 nm, and a heater element positioned within an alumina protective film of the element unit.

Abstract: A head for magnetic thermally assisted magnetic data recording, having a read element, a write element a heater element for controlling thermal protrusion of the read and write elements and a thermal sensor for detecting contact a portion of the head with a magnetic media. The thermal contact sensor is arranged so that the thermal conduction between the thermal contact sensor and the read element is substantially equal to the thermal conductivity between the thermal contact sensor and the write element. In this way the accuracy of the detection of thermal contact is maintained whether the read element makes contact with the disk or the write element makes contact with disk.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a magnetic disk includes rotating a magnetic disk, supporting a floating head on the rotating magnetic disk, the floating head having a slider body and an element unit formed on a trailing edge of the slider body, contacting a floating surface of the slider body with the magnetic disk, and protruding a portion of the floating head toward the magnetic disk due to application of power to a heater element within the element unit, wherein the element unit is positioned away from the magnetic disk. In another embodiment, a floating head includes a slider body comprising AlTiC, an element unit positioned on a trailing edge of the slider body, the element unit having an initial recess amount of at least about 4 nm, and a heater element positioned within an alumina protective film of the element unit.

Abstract: A magnetic head slider including a first face adjacent to a recording medium, a shallow groove face formed at a first depth from the levitating face, a deep groove face formed at a second depth from said first face, where the second depth is greater than the first depth. The head slider also includes a negative pressure generating face comprising the deep groove face, first levitating faces enclosing a periphery of the negative pressure generating face on an inlet side of the head slider, and second levitating faces formed on opposite sides of the head slider, wherein the first levitating faces and the second levitating faces are separated.