Abstract: A plasmon generator has a front end face located in a medium facing surface of a magnetic head. The plasmon generator includes a first portion formed of a first metal material and a second portion formed of a second metal material. The first portion has an inclined surface facing toward the front end face. The second portion is located between the inclined surface and the front end face, and includes a first end face located in the front end face and a second end face in contact with the inclined surface. The second metal material is higher in Vickers hardness than the first metal material. The first portion has a plasmon exciting part. The front end face generates near-field light.

Abstract: A near-field light generator includes a multilayer structure having a front end face. The multilayer structure includes a first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer, a third dielectric layer, a first metal layer, and a second metal layer. The first metal layer is interposed between the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer. The second metal layer is interposed between the second dielectric layer and the third dielectric layer. Each of the first to third dielectric layers and the first and second metal layers has an end located in the front end face. The dielectric material used to form the first dielectric layer, the dielectric material used to form the second dielectric layer, and the dielectric material used to form the third dielectric layer have the same permittivity.

Abstract: A plasmon generator has a front end face, a first metal layer, a second metal layer, and an intermediate layer. The front end face generates near-field light based on a surface plasmon. The intermediate layer is interposed between the first metal layer and the second metal layer. Each of the first metal layer, the second metal layer and the intermediate layer has an end located in the front end face. Each of the first and second metal layers is formed of a metal material. The intermediate layer is formed of a material higher in Vickers hardness than the metal material used to form the first metal layer and the metal material used to form the second metal layer.

Abstract: A near-field light generator includes a multilayer structure having a front end face. The multilayer structure includes a first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer, a third dielectric layer, a first metal layer, and a second metal layer. The first metal layer is interposed between the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer. The second metal layer is interposed between the second dielectric layer and the third dielectric layer. Each of the first to third dielectric layers and the first and second metal layers has an end located in the front end face. The dielectric material used to form the first dielectric layer, the dielectric material used to form the second dielectric layer, and the dielectric material used to form the third dielectric layer have the same permittivity.

Abstract: A plasmon generator has a front end face located in a medium facing surface of a magnetic head. The plasmon generator includes a first portion formed of a first metal material and a second portion formed of a second metal material. The first portion has an inclined surface facing toward the front end face. The second portion is located between the inclined surface and the front end face, and includes a first end face located in the front end face and a second end face in contact with the inclined surface. The second metal material is higher in Vickers hardness than the first metal material. The first portion has a plasmon exciting part. The front end face generates near-field light.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes a reading part, a recording part that is laminated on the reading part in a planer view, a recording part expansion heater, a reading part expansion heater, and a thermal expansion promoting layer that is prepared at a position closer to the reading part than to the recording part and extends to an air bearing surface.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes a reading part, a recording part that is laminated on the reading part in a planer view, a recording part expansion heater, a reading part expansion heater, and a thermal expansion promoting layer that is prepared at a position closer to the reading part than to the recording part and extends to an air bearing surface.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a thermally-assisted magnetic head includes aligning the light source unit to the thermally-assisted magnetic head section on the slider body; and performing a bonding between the unit substrate and the slider body with a bonding layer in between. And process of the bonding includes irradiating the bonding layer with a first laser shot, pausing for a time interval after the first laser shot, and then irradiating a second laser shot, wherein a first irradiating power of the first laser shot is weaker than a second irradiating power of the second laser shot, and a first irradiating time of the first laser shot is shorter than a second irradiating time of the second laser shot. The method can keep an accurate alignment of the unit substrate with respect to the slider after a bonding process and, in turns improve performance of the thermally-assisted magnetic head.

Abstract: A write element for a thermally assisted magnetic head slider includes an air bearing surface facing to a magnetic recording medium; a first magnetic pole, a second magnetic pole, and coils sandwiched between the first and the second magnetic poles; a waveguide for guiding light generated by a light source module mounted on a substrate; and a plasmon unit provided around the first magnetic pole and the waveguide, which has a near-field light generating surface for propagating near-field light to the air bearing surface. The near-field light generating surface of the plasmon unit is apart from the air bearing surface with a first predetermined distance to form a first recess, and the first recess is filled in with a protective layer. The thermally assisted magnetic head slider can prevent the plasmon unit from protruding over the air bearing surface, thereby improving the performance of thermally assisted magnetic head.

Abstract: A thermally-assisted magnetic recording head includes a main pole, a waveguide, and a plasmon generator. The waveguide includes a core and a cladding. The plasmon generator is configured to excite a surface plasmon based on light propagating through the core. The plasmon generator has a front end face located in a medium facing surface, and a first inclined surface connected to the front end face and facing toward the medium facing surface. The main pole includes an interposition part interposed between the first inclined surface and the medium facing surface. The interposition part has a second inclined surface that is opposed to the first inclined surface with an insulating film interposed therebetween.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a light source chip for a thermally assisted head comprises steps of (a) providing a light source bar with a surface coating formed thereon; (b) forming several blind holes on the predetermined positions of the light source bar by etching, the blind hole having a top hollowed on the surface coating and a bottom hollowed on the light source bar, and the blind hole having a first biggest width at its top; (c) cutting the light source bar along every two adjacent blind holes by a cutting machine. The cutting machine has a cutting means with a second biggest width that is smaller than the first biggest width of the blind hole, thereby cutting down an individual light source chip without contacting the side edges of the blind hole. Thus a light source chip with a smooth edge and without cracks on the surface can be obtained; and the surface coating formed thereon is hard to be peeled off.

Abstract: A write element for a thermally assisted magnetic head slider includes an air bearing surface facing to a magnetic recording medium; a first magnetic pole, a second magnetic pole, and coils sandwiched between the first and the second magnetic poles; a waveguide for guiding light generated by a light source module mounted on a substrate; and a plasmon unit provided around the first magnetic pole and the waveguide, which has a near-field light generating surface for propagating near-field light to the air bearing surface. The near-field light generating surface of the plasmon unit is apart from the air bearing surface with a first predetermined distance to form a first recess, and the first recess is filled in with a protective layer. The thermally assisted magnetic head slider can prevent the plasmon unit from protruding over the air bearing surface, thereby improving the performance of thermally assisted magnetic head.

Abstract: A plasmon generator has a front end face located in a medium facing surface of a magnetic head. The plasmon generator includes a first layer formed of a first metal material, a second layer formed of a second metal material, and a third layer formed of a third metal material. Each of the second and third layers has an end portion constituting part of the front end face. The first layer does not have any portion constituting part of the front end face. The first and second metal materials are higher in electrical conductivity than the third metal material. The third metal material is higher in Vickers hardness than the first and second metal materials. The first layer has a plasmon exciting part.

Abstract: In a manufacturing method for layered chip packages, a layered substructure with at least one additional package joined thereto is used to produce a plurality of layered chip packages. The layered substructure includes a plurality of main bodies to be separated from each other later. Each main body includes: a main part having top and bottom surfaces and including a plurality of layer portions stacked on each other; and a plurality of main terminals disposed on at least one of the top and bottom surfaces of the main part. The additional package includes an additional semiconductor chip and at least one additional terminal that is electrically connected to the additional semiconductor chip and in contact with at least one of the plurality of main terminals.

Abstract: A write element for a thermally assisted magnetic head slider includes an air bearing surface facing to a magnetic recording medium; a first magnetic pole, a second magnetic pole, and coils sandwiched between the first and the second magnetic poles; a waveguide for guiding light generated by a light source module mounted on a substrate; and a plasmon unit provided around the first magnetic pole and the waveguide, which has a near-field light generating surface for propagating near-field light to the air bearing surface. The near-field light generating surface of the plasmon unit is apart from the air bearing surface with a first predetermined distance to form a first recess, and the first recess is filled in with a protective layer. The thermally assisted magnetic head slider can prevent the plasmon unit from protruding over the air bearing surface, thereby improving the performance of thermally assisted magnetic head.

Abstract: A thermally assisted magnetic head includes a main magnetic pole layer, a near-field light generating layer having a generating end part generating near-field light arranged within a medium-opposing surface, and an optical waveguide guiding light to the near-field light generating layer. The optical waveguide has a waveguide end face arranged within the medium-opposing surface and an upper end face on a side closer to the main magnetic pole layer. The thermally assisted magnetic head has an interposed layer which is in direct contact with an outer surface of the optical waveguide. The near-field light generating layer has a near-field light generating part having the generating end part and an expanded part connected with the near-field light generating part. The expanded part has a base part arranged above the upper end face of the optical waveguide and extended base part connected with the base part.

Abstract: A row bar with smart sensor for forming sliders, which comprises a row of slider forming portions, each slider forming portion comprising a slider to be cut from the row bar and a medial region adjacent the slider; each slider comprises a slider body and a magnetic writer disposed in the slider body, with the magnetic writer having a main pole which includes a pole face for being lapped, and all the main poles are arranged in a row; the row bar has at least one smart sensor disposed therein, with the smart sensor having at least three dummy poles, whose structure is identical to that of said main pole, arranged in the row of the main poles, there is a space between every two adjacent dummy poles of said smart sensor, and there is a offset in the direction vertical with the pole face between every two adjacent dummy poles of said smart sensor. The invention also discloses a method of manufacturing the slider.

Abstract: A thermally assisted magnetic head slider includes an air bearing surface facing to a magnetic recording medium, a read portion, and a write portion including a write element, a waveguide for guiding light generated by the light source module, and a plasmon unit provided around the write portion and the waveguide. A first coat layer with a first thickness which has a first light absorption index is covered on an opposed-to-medium surface of the read portion, and a second coat layer with a second thickness which has a second light absorption index is covered on an opposed-to medium surface of the write portion, wherein the second thickness is larger than the first thickness, and the second light absorption index is smaller than the first light absorption index. The slider can protect the write portion and improve the reading performance of the read portion.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a light source chip for a thermally assisted head comprises steps of (a) providing a light source bar with a surface coating formed thereon; (b) forming several blind holes on the predetermined positions of the light source bar by etching, the blind hole having a top hollowed on the surface coating and a bottom hollowed on the light source bar, and the blind hole having a first biggest width at its top; (c) cutting the light source bar along every two adjacent blind holes by a cutting machine The cutting machine has a cutting means with a second biggest width that is smaller than the first biggest width of the blind hole, thereby cutting down an individual light source chip without contacting the side edges of the blind hole. Thus a light source chip with a smooth edge and without cracks on the surface can be obtained; and the surface coating formed thereon is hard to be peeled off.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a light source chip for a thermally assisted head comprises steps of (a) providing a light source bar with a surface coating formed thereon; (b) forming several blind holes on the predetermined positions of the light source bar by etching, the blind hole having a top hollowed on the surface coating and a bottom hollowed on the light source bar, and the blind hole having a first biggest width at its top; (c) cutting the light source bar along every two adjacent blind holes by a cutting machine. The cutting machine has a cutting means with a second biggest width that is smaller than the first biggest width of the blind hole, thereby cutting down an individual light source chip without contacting the side edges of the blind hole.