Abstract: A structure includes a channel waveguide and a pocket adjacent to an input facet of the channel waveguide. A laser having an output facet is positioned in the pocket. The structure includes a stop on either the laser or a wall of the pocket. The stop is positioned at an interface between the laser and the wall of the pocket such that the output facet of the laser and the input facet of the waveguide are separated by a gap.

Abstract: A transducer includes magnetic material formed on a substrate that is shaped to include a trailing edge, a leading edge and a pair of opposing sidewalls extending between the trailing edge and the leading edge. A layer of protective material is positioned in contact with each of the pair of sidewalls of the shaped magnetic material. Backfill material surrounds the protective material on each of the pair of sidewalls of the shaped magnetic material.

Abstract: A structure includes a channel waveguide and a pocket adjacent to an input facet of the channel waveguide. A laser having an output facet is positioned in the pocket. The structure includes a stop on either the laser or a wall of the pocket. The stop is positioned at an interface between the laser and the wall of the pocket such that the output facet of the laser and the input facet of the waveguide are separated by a gap.

Abstract: A transducer includes magnetic material formed on a substrate that is shaped to include a trailing edge, a leading edge and a pair of opposing sidewalls extending between the trailing edge and the leading edge. A layer of protective material is positioned in contact with each of the pair of sidewalls of the shaped magnetic material. Backfill material surrounds the protective material on each of the pair of sidewalls of the shaped magnetic material.

Abstract: Aspects include methods to produce pattern media templates and the templates. A pattern of resist structures is formed on a first material layer. A conformal layer of a second material is deposited on the resist pattern, covering tops and side walls of the resist structures. The first material is more resistant to ion milling than the second material, and less resistant to plasma etching than the second material. The first material can be amorphous carbon and the second material can be aluminum oxide. The second material is removed on the tops, and preserved on the side walls. The resist structures and portions of the first layer not supporting second layer material are removed by plasma. The remaining structure is 2× denser than the resist pattern. Conformal deposition of second material and ion milling can be repeated.

Abstract: The magnetoresistive sensor has a bottom shield, a nonmagnetic metallic pedestal, a bottom reader gap, a biasing element, a magnetoresistive stack, current leads, a top reader gap, and a top shield. The nonmagnetic metallic pedestal is positioned on a portion of the bottom shield and the nonmagnetic metallic pedestal has a width less than the width of the bottom shield. The bottom reader gap is positioned on the nonmagnetic metallic pedestal and on the bottom shield such that a portion of the bottom reader gap over the nonmagnetic metallic pedestal is raised relative to portions of the bottom reader gap not over the nonmagnetic metallic pedestal.

Abstract: The magnetoresistive sensor has a bottom shield, a nonmagnetic metallic pedestal, a bottom reader gap, a biasing element, a magnetoresistive stack, current leads, a top reader gap, and a top shield. The nonmagnetic metallic pedestal is positioned on a portion of the bottom shield and the nonmagnetic metallic pedestal has a width less than the width of the bottom shield. The bottom reader gap is positioned on the nonmagnetic metallic pedestal and on the bottom shield such that a portion of the bottom reader gap over the nonmagnetic metallic pedestal is raised relative to portions of the bottom reader gap not over the nonmagnetic metallic pedestal.