Abstract: A near field transducer (NFT) having improved reliability is disclosed. In some embodiments, a NFT includes a resonator body layer having a front side at a first plane that is recessed a first distance from an air bearing surface (ABS), and a peg layer that is a single layer made of a noble metal or alloy thereof. The peg layer includes a peg portion or peg with a front side at the ABS, a back side at the first plane, and two sides aligned orthogonal to the ABS and separated by the first cross-track width. The peg portion or the peg having a single peg grain with or without a desired (111) orientation through laser self-annealing process.

Abstract: The thermally-assisted magnetic recording method is a method to perform information recording on a magnetic recording medium by a thermally-assisted magnetic recording head having a magnetic pole and a heating element, and the method includes: performing annealing treatment of the heating element through applying first energy to the heating element and heating the heating element; and performing information recording to a predetermined recording region of the magnetic recording medium after the annealing treatment. The information recording is performed through rotating the magnetic recording medium as well as floating the thermally-assisted magnetic recording head above the magnetic recording medium, and applying second energy to the heating element to heat a predetermined recording region of the magnetic recording medium as well as applying a write magnetic field from the magnetic pole to the predetermined recording region.

Abstract: The thermally-assisted magnetic recording method is a method to perform information recording on a magnetic recording medium by a thermally-assisted magnetic recording head having a magnetic pole and a heating element, and the method includes: performing annealing treatment of the heating element through applying first energy to the heating element and heating the heating element; and performing information recording to a predetermined recording region of the magnetic recording medium after the annealing treatment. The information recording is performed through rotating the magnetic recording medium as well as floating the thermally-assisted magnetic recording head above the magnetic recording medium, and applying second energy to the heating element to heat a predetermined recording region of the magnetic recording medium as well as applying a write magnetic field from the magnetic pole to the predetermined recording region.