Abstract: A data storage device is disclosed comprising a disk and a head actuated over the disk, wherein the head comprises a laser configured to heat the disk while writing data to the disk. The laser power is adjusted and a pattern is written to a target track at the adjusted laser power. The pattern is read from the target track to generate a read signal, and a quality metric is generated based on the read signal. The process is repeated at least once, and a write power for the laser is configured based on a slope of the quality metric.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk, wherein the head comprises a laser operable to heat the disk while writing data to the disk. A laser power of the laser is initialized, and a test pattern is written to the disk. The test pattern is read from the disk to generate a read signal, and a quality metric and a track width of the test pattern is measured based on the read signal. The laser power is adjusted and the process is repeated until at least one of the quality metric substantially matches a target value and the track width substantially matches a track width threshold.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk, a head comprising a laser operable to heat the disk while writing data to the disk, and a fly height actuator (FHA) operable to actuate the head vertically over the disk. A laser power applied to the laser during a write operation is calibrated, and a FHA write setting is generated for the FHA as a function of the calibrated laser power.