Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording write head has a write pole, a trapezoidal-shaped trailing shield notch, and a metal gap layer between the write pole and notch. The write pole has a trailing edge that has a width substantially defining the track width and that faces the front edge of the notch but is spaced from it by the gap layer. The write head is fabricated by reactive ion beam etching of a thin mask film above the write pole to remove the mask film and widen the opening at the edges of the write pole. The gap layer and notch are deposited into the widened opening above the write pole. The write pole has nonmagnetic filler material, such as alumina, surrounding it except at its trailing edge, where it is in contact with the gap layer, which is formed of a different material than the surrounding filler material.

Abstract: A method for forming a magnetic write head using a damascene process that does not form voids in the magnetic structure. An opening is formed in an alumina layer, the opening being configured to define a trench. Then a first layer of magnetic material is deposited into the trench. A CMP process is then performed to remove any voids that have formed in the first magnetic layer. Then a second layer of magnetic material is deposited over the first layer of magnetic material. In another embodiment of the invention, a opening is formed in the alumina layer, and a first layer of magnetic material is electroplated into the opening. A thin layer of non-magnetic material is then deposited, and a second layer of magnetic material is deposited over the thin layer of non-magnetic material. The thin layer of alumina advantageously provides a laminate structure that avoids data erasure.

Abstract: A method in one embodiment includes forming a layer of a nonmagnetic material above an upper surface of a substrate; forming a resist structure above the layer of nonmagnetic material, wherein the resist structure has an undercut; removing a portion of the layer of nonmagnetic material not covered by the resist structure; depositing a layer of magnetic material above the substrate adjacent a remaining portion of the layer of nonmagnetic material such that at least portions of the layer of magnetic material and the remaining portion of the layer of nonmagnetic material lie in a common plane; removing the resist structure; and forming a write pole above the layer of magnetic material and the remaining portion of the layer of nonmagnetic material. Additional methods are also presented.

Abstract: A method for forming a magnetic write head having a trailing shield with a tapered and stepped, self aligned trailing magnetic shield. The shield has a tapered portion that tapers away from the write pole as it extends away from the ABS. This tapered portion helps to channel flux to the pole tip portion of the shield, while preventing the loss of write field to the shield. The stepped portion of the shield further helps to prevent the loss of write field and also defines a secondary throat height of the shield that can be accurately located relative to the air bearing surface.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a magnetic write head having a stepped, recessed, high magnetic moment pole connected with a write pole. The stepped pole structure helps to channel magnetic flux to the write pole without leaking write field to the magnetic medium. This allows the write head to maintain a high write field strength at very small bit sizes. The method includes depositing a dielectric layer and a first CMP layer over substrate that can include a magnetic shaping layer. A mask is formed over the dielectric layer, the mask having an opening to define the stepped pole structure. The image of the mask is transferred into the dielectric layer. A high magnetic moment material is deposited and a chemical mechanical polishing is performed to planarize the magnetic material and dielectric layer.

Abstract: A system according to one embodiment includes a magnetic pole; a bump structure above the pole, the bump structure having a first surface oriented at a first angle between 1° and 89° from a plane of deposition of the pole, and a second surface oriented at a second angle between 1° and 89° from the plane of deposition of the pole, wherein the second angle is greater than the first angle; and a shield above the bump structure. A method according to one embodiment includes forming a bump layer above a magnetic pole; removing a portion of the bump layer for forming a step therein; and milling the bump layer for defining thereon a first surface oriented at a first angle between 1° and 89° from a plane of deposition of the bump layer, and a second surface oriented at a second angle between 1° and 89° from the plane of deposition of the bump layer, wherein the second angle is greater than the first angle.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a system comprises an upper yoke having a first length defined between a pole tip thereof and a back gap thereof. In addition, the system includes a lower yoke having a second length defined between a pole tip thereof and a back gap thereof, the second length being greater than the first length. Also, the system includes coil turns in the upper and lower yokes. Additional systems and methods are also presented.

Abstract: A method in one embodiment includes forming a resist structure above an upper surface of a substrate, wherein a portion of the upper surface of the substrate is a shaping layer, wherein the resist structure has an undercut; depositing a layer of magnetic material above exposed regions of the substrate, wherein a portion of the layer of magnetic material tapers towards the substrate as it approaches the undercut; removing the resist structure; and forming a write pole above the layer of magnetic material. Additional methods are disclosed.

Abstract: A magnetic write head structure that maximizes write field strength while minimizing stray fields. The write pole structure maximizes write field strength by minimizing saturation of the magnetic pole tips, and minimizes stray field writing by preventing magnetic fields from extending laterally from the sides of the magnetic pole. The write head structure includes a write pole having a pole tip configured with a stair notched shape and a steep shouldered base beneath the stair notched portion. This configuration maximizes the amount of flux that can be delivered to the pole tip while also avoiding stray fields. The magnetic pole can also be configured with wing shaped extensions that extend laterally from the pole tip region but which are recessed from the ABS by a desired amount.

Abstract: A magnetic head structure for use in perpendicular magnetic recording. The magnetic head includes a magnetic write head having a return pole with a magnetic shunt structure extending from the back end opposite the ABS. The magnetic shunt structure prevents magnetic field from the write coil from reaching and affecting the read head. More specifically the shunt structure prevents magnetic field from the portion of the write coil beyond the back gap (as measured from the ABS) from magnetizing a magnetic shield of the read head. The shunt structure is also configured so as to avoid stray field writing. The size and shape of the shunt structure is therefore, limited to avoid attracting stray fields that might cause such stray field writing.

Abstract: A magnetic write head for perpendicular magnetic recording that has a helical coil design that reduces manufacturing complexity and increases cycle time for manufacture. The write head includes a write pole and a helical write coil having upper coil portions that pass above the write pole and lower coil portions that pass below the write pole. The upper and lower coil portions are connected with another by connection studs. Whereas the upper and lower coil portions are constructed of a non-magnetic, electrically conductive material such as Cu, the connection studs are constructed of a magnetic, electrically conductive material such as NiFe. By constructing the connection studs of a magnetic material, they can be constructed in the same manufacturing steps used to manufacture various magnetic structures of the write head, such as a magnetic shaping layer and/or the back gap.

Abstract: A magnetic head having an electrostatic shunt structure for preventing damage to the magnetic head during manufacture. A portion of the shunt structure is removed during manufacture, however another portion remains. In order to prevent the remaining portions of the shunt structure from picking up stray magnetic and electromagnetic fields, an electromagnetic shield, is provided between the remaining portions of the shunt structure and the substrate.

Abstract: A magnetic write head having a trailing shield configured to optimize both write field strength and field gradient. The write head includes a write pole, a trailing gap layer formed over the trailing edge of the write pole and a trailing magnetic shield formed over the non-magnetic write gap layer such that the non-magnetic write gap layer is sandwiched between the trailing magnetic shield and the write pole. The trailing magnetic shield has a first surface disposed at the air bearing surface and second surface disposed away from the air bearing surface that is tapered at an angle of 20 to 75 degrees relative to the trailing edge of the write pole.

Abstract: A magnetic write head for perpendicular magnetic recording having a trailing, wrap around magnetic shield constructed of a low magnetic permeability. The lower permeability of the shield prevents magnetic saturation of the shield, which in turn prevents adjacent track interference such as adjacent track erasure. The shield can also be constructed as a pure trailing shield, or as first and second side shields without any trailing shield portion.

Abstract: A system according to one embodiment comprises a head having a perpendicular writer, the writer comprising: a first pole structure having a pole tip positioned towards an air bearing surface of the head, the first pole structure having a portion that is recessed from an extent of the pole tip closest the air bearing surface; a return pole having an end positioned towards the air bearing surface of the head; and a gap between the first pole structure and the return pole, wherein the recessed portion is recessed less than about 1.25 microns relative to the extent of the pole tip closest the air bearing surface. Additional embodiments as well as methods are presented.

Abstract: A magnetic write pole having a structure that prevents thermally induced pole tip protrusion. The write head has a return pole with a magnetic pedestal formed at the air bearing surface (ABS) and a back gap at an end opposite the ABS. An electrically conductive write coil having a plurality of turns passes over the return pole. A fill layer of a material having a low coefficient of thermal expansion, such as alumina is disposed between the coil and the pedestal, and may extend over the top of the coil to the back gap. A photoresist coil insulation layer may be provided between the turns of the coil to insulate the turns of the coil from one another. The photoresist coil insulation layer can also extend to the back gap. A write pole, formed above the return pole and coil is magnetically connected with the back gap layer and return pole by a magnetic shaping layer.

Abstract: A magnetic write head having a magnetic return pole that is configured to prevent wide area track erasure. The magnetic return pole has a throat region with a relatively narrow width and has a inner and outer wing portions formed near the air bearing surface. The inner wing portion has a front edge that is disposed at the air bearing surface, whereas the outer wing portion has a front edge that is recessed from the air bearing surface.

Abstract: A magnetic write head for perpendicular magnetic recording having a write pole with a concave trailing edge. The magnetic write pole can have a trapezoidal shape with first and second laterally opposed sides that are further apart at the trailing edge than at the leading edge. The write head may or may not include a magnetic trailing shield, and if a trailing shield is included it is separated from the trailing edge by a non-magnetic write gap layer. The concave trailing edge improves magnetic performance such as by improving the transition curvature. A method for constructing the write head includes forming a magnetic write pole by forming a mask structure over a deposited write pole material, the mask structure having an alumina hard mask and an image transfer layer such as DURAMIDE®. An alumina fill layer is then deposited and a chemical mechanical polish is performed to open up the image transfer layer.

Abstract: Methods and structures for the fabrication of a thin film, perpendicular recording write head are disclosed. The structure provides a pole tip separated from a rear pole by a non-magnetic separation layer located adjacent the flare point. The rear pole contains an imbedded non-magnetic layer. The separated pole tip and imbedded layer aid in the high data rate recording as well as the erasure performance of the write pole structure. The fabrication involves the deposition of two different oxide layers which have mutually high etch selectivities. This characteristic allows a write pole structure to be built wherein the track width is independent of the location of the flare point. The process also produces a structure wherein the placement of the throat height of the shield is self aligned to the flare point of the write pole.

Abstract: A magnetic write head for perpendicular magnetic data recording. The write head includes an wrap around trailing shield structure for improved write field strength, reduced skew related adjacent track interference and magnetic core width. The trailing wrap around shield includes a side shield that is separated from sides of the write pole by a side gap that is narrower near the leading edge of the write pole and wider near the trailing edge of the write pole.