Abstract: A recording head includes a channel waveguide that delivers light to a media-facing surface. A near-field transducer (NFT) is at an end of the channel waveguide and proximate to the media-facing surface. A laser including an active region has a longitudinal axis corresponding to a propagation direction of the channel waveguide. The active region includes a back facet and a front facet proximate the NFT. The front facet has a surface shape configured to suppress back reflection of the light.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a substrate. A laser is deposited above the substrate. The laser includes one or more non-self-supporting layers of crystalline material. The laser has a length along a light path in a range of about 40 um to about 350 um. An optical input coupler is configured to receive light from the laser. A waveguide is deposited proximate the optical input coupler. The waveguide is configured to communicate light from the laser via the optical input coupler to a near-field transducer that directs energy resulting from plasmonic excitation to a recording medium.

Abstract: A recording head includes a channel waveguide that delivers light to a media-facing surface. A near-field transducer (NFT) is at an end of the channel waveguide and proximate to the media-facing surface. A laser including an active region has a longitudinal axis corresponding to a propagation direction of the channel waveguide. The active region includes a back facet and a front facet proximate the NFT. The front facet has a surface shape configured to suppress back reflection of the light.

Abstract: A write head includes an input coupler configured to receive light excited by a light source. A waveguide core is configured to receive light from the input coupler at a fundamental transverse electric (TE00) mode. The waveguide core has a first straight portion. The waveguide core has a mode converter portion comprising a branched portion extending from the first straight portion. The mode converter portion is configured to convert the light to a higher-order (TE10) mode, the mode converter portion spaced apart from the input coupler. The waveguide core has a second straight portion between the mode converter portion and a media-facing surface. The write head has a near-field transducer at the media-facing surface, the near-field transducer receiving the light at the TE10 mode from the waveguide and directing surface plasmons to a recording medium in response thereto.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a substrate. A laser is formed on a non-self supporting structure and bonded to the substrate. A waveguide having a gap portion is deposited proximate the laser. The waveguide is configured to communicate light from the laser to a near-field transducer (NFT) that directs energy resulting from plasmonic excitation to a recording medium. An optical isolator is disposed over the gap portion.

Abstract: A recording head includes a channel waveguide that delivers light to a media-facing surface. A near-field transducer (NFT) is at an end of the channel waveguide and proximate to the media-facing surface. A laser including an active region has a longitudinal axis corresponding to a propagation direction of the channel waveguide. The active region includes a back facet and a front facet proximate the NFT. The front facet has a surface shape configured to suppress back reflection of the light.

Abstract: A recording head includes a channel waveguide that delivers light to a media-facing surface. A near-field transducer (NFT) is at an end of the channel waveguide and proximate to the media-facing surface. A laser including an active region has a longitudinal axis corresponding to a propagation direction of the channel waveguide. The active region includes a back facet and a front facet proximate the NFT. The front facet has a surface shape configured to suppress back reflection of the light.

Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic recording head includes a slider body having a waveguide that delivers light to a near-field transducer. The waveguide is optically coupled to an input coupler a of the slider body that receives the light. A laser diode is mounted on or in the slider body. The laser diode has an integral exit facet proximate the input coupler. The exit facet has a curved profile that modifies a shape of the light emitted from the exit facet into the input coupler.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a substrate. A laser is formed on a non-self supporting structure and bonded to the substrate. A waveguide having a gap portion is deposited proximate the laser. The waveguide is configured to communicate light from the laser to a near-field transducer (NFT) that directs energy resulting from plasmonic excitation to a recording medium. An optical isolator is disposed over the gap portion.

Abstract: A write head includes an input coupler configured to receive light excited by a light source. A waveguide core is configured to receive light from the input coupler at a fundamental transverse electric (TE00) mode. The waveguide core has a first straight portion. The waveguide core has a mode converter portion comprising a branched portion extending from the first straight portion. The mode converter portion is configured to convert the light to a higher-order (TE10) mode, the mode converter portion spaced apart from the input coupler. The waveguide core has a second straight portion between the mode converter portion and a media-facing surface. The write head has a near-field transducer at the media-facing surface, the near-field transducer receiving the light at the TE10 mode from the waveguide and directing surface plasmons to a recording medium in response thereto.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a substrate. A laser is formed on a non-self supporting structure and bonded to the substrate. A waveguide having a gap portion is deposited proximate the laser. The waveguide is configured to communicate light from the laser to a near-field transducer (NFT) that directs energy resulting from plasmonic excitation to a recording medium. An optical isolator is disposed over the gap portion.

Abstract: A write head includes an input coupler configured to receive light excited by a light source. A waveguide core is configured to receive light from the input coupler at a fundamental transverse electric (TE00) mode. The waveguide core has a first straight portion. The waveguide core has a mode converter portion comprising a branched portion extending from the first straight portion. The mode converter portion is configured to convert the light to a higher-order (TE10) mode, the mode converter portion spaced apart from the input coupler. The waveguide core has a second straight portion between the mode converter portion and a media-facing surface. The write head has a near-field transducer at the media-facing surface, the near-field transducer receiving the light at the TE10 mode from the waveguide and directing surface plasmons to a recording medium in response thereto.

Abstract: A method, and apparatus provided thereby, includes providing a substrate and placing an integrated laser on the substrate. A first cladding layer surrounds the integrated laser and includes a laser optical coupler aligned with an output of the laser. The laser optical coupler includes silicon and the laser includes a III-V compound semiconductor. The output of the laser is spaced apart from the laser optical coupler by a gap of less than or equal to 500 nanometers. An optical waveguide is positioned on the first cladding layer and in optical communication with the laser optical coupler.

Abstract: A method, and apparatus provided thereby, includes providing a substrate and placing an integrated laser on the substrate. A first cladding layer surrounds the integrated laser and includes a laser optical coupler aligned with an output of the laser. The laser optical coupler includes silicon and the laser includes a III-V compound semiconductor. The output of the laser is spaced apart from the laser optical coupler by a gap of less than or equal to 500 nanometers. An optical waveguide is positioned on the first cladding layer and in optical communication with the laser optical coupler.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first waveguide core extending along a light-propagation direction and configured to receive light from a light source at a combined transverse electric (TE) mode and a transverse magnetic (TM) mode. A second waveguide core is spaced apart from the first waveguide core and is configured to couple light at a TM mode to the second waveguide core. A near-field transducer (NFT) is disposed at a media-facing surface of a write head, the NFT receiving the light from the first waveguide core or the second waveguide core and heating a magnetic recording medium in response thereto.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an input coupler configured to receive light excited by a light source. A near-field transducer (NFT) is positioned at a media-facing surface of a write head. A layered waveguide is positioned between the input coupler and the NFT and configured to receive the light output from the input coupler in a transverse electric (TE) mode and deliver the light to the NFT in a transverse magnetic (TM) mode. The layered waveguide comprises a first layer extending along a light-propagation direction. The first layer is configured to receive light from the input coupler. The first layer tapers from a first cross track width to a second cross track width where the second cross track width is narrower than the first cross track width. The layered waveguide includes a second layer that is disposed on the first layer. The second layer has a cross sectional area in a plane perpendicular to the light propagation direction that increases along the light propagation direction.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a substrate. A laser is formed on a non-self supporting structure and bonded to the substrate. A waveguide is deposited proximate the laser. The waveguide is configured to communicate light from the laser to a near-field transducer that directs energy resulting from plasmonic excitation to a recording medium. A light detector is configured to detect an amount of light. At least one laser heater is disposed proximate the laser. A controller is configured to control current supplied to the at least one heater based on the detected amount of light.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first waveguide core extending along a light-propagation direction and configured to receive light from a light source at a combined transverse electric (TE) mode and a transverse magnetic (TM) mode. A second waveguide core is spaced apart from the first waveguide core and is configured to couple light at a TM mode to the second waveguide core. A near-field transducer (NFT) is disposed at a media-facing surface of a write head, the NFT receiving the light from the first waveguide core or the second waveguide core and heating a magnetic recording medium in response thereto.

Abstract: A recording head has a waveguide core with an input end proximate an energy source at an input surface of the recording head. The waveguide core couples light from the energy source to a near-field transducer that heats a recording medium in response to the light. An input coupler extends along the waveguide core from the input end to a termination region that is away from the input end in a light propagation direction. The input coupler has a first refractive index between that of the waveguide core and a surrounding material. The input coupler is wider than the waveguide core and has a slanted edge at the termination region. The slanted edge crosses the waveguide core such that the input coupler narrows to a neck away from the waveguide core in a crosstrack direction.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a substrate. A laser is formed on a non-self supporting structure and bonded to the substrate. A waveguide is deposited proximate the laser. The waveguide is configured to communicate light from the laser to a near-field transducer that directs energy resulting from plasmonic excitation to a recording medium. A light detector is configured to detect an amount of light. At least one laser heater is disposed proximate the laser. A controller is configured to control current supplied to the at least one heater based on the detected amount of light.