Abstract: An apparatus (e.g., a heat assisted magnetic recording read/write element) that has an optical component that extends to a location adjacent a media-facing surface of a slider body. The apparatus further includes a planar plasmon antenna that is disposed between the tip portion of the magnetic write pole and the optical component. The planar plasmon antenna can be formed of a plasmonic material operationally capable of a plasmonic excitation in response to an evanescent coupling with an optical mode of the optical component. In some instances, the planar plasmon antenna includes an enlarged region spaced from the optical component and a peg region formed in the enlarged region. The peg region has a thickness in a direction substantially transverse to the optical component that is less than a thickness of a portion of the enlarged region that spaces the peg region from the optical component.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a writer, a near-field transducer (NFT), a channel waveguide proximate the NFT, a dielectric layer between the NFT and waveguide, and a plurality of heat sinks. A first heat sink comprises a gap and contacts the NFT and the writer. A second heat sink extends across the gap of the first heat sink and between the NFT and a heat reservoir component, such as a return pole of the writer. The channel waveguide may contact the second heat sink, such as by encompassing a peripheral portion of the second heat sink. The second heat sink may have at least an outer surface comprising a plasmonic material, and may be configured to enhance plasmonic excitation of the NFT.

Abstract: Systems that include an energy source configured to provide transverse electric (TE) mode energy; a channel waveguide configured to receive energy from the energy source, the channel waveguide having at least one mirror plane; and a near field transducer (NFT) configured to receive energy from the channel waveguide, the NFT having at least one mirror plane.

Abstract: An apparatus that includes a near field transducer (NFT), the NFT including, amongst other elements and materials: tantalum (Ta), niobium (Nb), molybdenum (Mo), rhodium (Rh), ruthenium (Ru), osmium (Os), titanium (Ti), zirconium (Zr), yttrium (Y), hafnium (Hf), platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), vanadium (V), chromium (Cr), iridium (Ir), scandium (Sc), niobium (Ni), cobalt (Co), rhenium (Re), silicon (Si), geranium (Ge), alloys thereof, dispersions containing these elements, intermetallics based on these elements, admixtures thereof, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A recording head includes a near-field transducer proximate a media-facing surface. The near-field transducer includes an aperture surrounded by walls of plasmonic material and a notch protruding within the aperture. The walls are oriented normal to the media-facing surface. A write pole is proximate the near-field transducer. The write pole has a back surface facing away from the media-facing surface and an aperture-facing surface proximate the aperture. A heat sink layer of the plasmonic material is disposed along the back surface and the aperture-facing surface of the write pole. The heat sink layer is thermally and optically coupled to the near-field transducer.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a waveguide and a near-field transducer adjacent the waveguide. The near-field transducer includes an enlarged region and a peg region extending from the enlarged region towards an air bearing surface. A write pole is adjacent the near-field transducer and include a first portion having an edge extending towards the air bearing surface at a non-orthogonal angle with respect to the air bearing surface. A second portion of the write pole extends orthogonally to the air bearing surface and is in contact with the first portion. The apparatus includes an insulator-filled gap at the air bearing surface between the second portion of the write pole and the peg region of the near-field transducer. The gap is bounded away from the air bearing surface by the enlarged region of the near-field transducer.

Abstract: An apparatus that includes a storage layer and a heating assistance element. The heating assistance element is adjacent to the storage layer or doped into the storage layer. The heating assistance element is configured to enhance spatial confinement of energy from a field to an area of the storage layer to which the field is applied.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a waveguide and a near-field transducer adjacent the waveguide. The near-field transducer includes an enlarged region and a peg region extending from the enlarged region towards an air bearing surface. A write pole is adjacent the near-field transducer and include a first portion having an edge extending towards the air bearing surface at a non-orthogonal angle with respect to the air bearing surface. A second portion of the write pole extends orthogonally to the air bearing surface and is in contact with the first portion. The apparatus includes an insulator-filled gap at the air bearing surface between the second portion of the write pole and the peg region of the near-field transducer. The gap is bounded away from the air bearing surface by the enlarged region of the near-field transducer.

Abstract: A near-field transducer includes an enlarged region having a top side adjacent to a magnetic pole, a base side opposite the top side, and a circumference that extends from proximal to a media-facing surface to distal to a media-facing surface. The near-field transducer includes a peg region in contact with a region of the bas side of the enlarged region, the peg region extending from the enlarged region towards the media-facing surface. The near-field transducer also includes a heat sink region having a contact side, a base side, and a circumference that extends from proximal to the media-facing surface to distal from the media-facing surface. The contact side of the heat sink region is in thermal contact with both the peg region and at least a region of the base side of the enlarged region.

Abstract: The embodiments disclose a plasmonic cladding structure including at least one conformal plasmonic cladding structure wrapped around plural stack features of a recording device, wherein the conformal plasmonic cladding structure is configured to create a near-field transducer in close proximity to a recording head of the recording device, at least one conformal plasmonic cladding structure with substantially removed top surfaces of the stack features with exposed magnetic layer materials and a thermally insulating filler configured to be located between the stack features.

Abstract: The embodiments disclose a stack feature of a stack configured to confine optical fields within and to a patterned plasmonic underlayer in the stack configured to guide light from a light source to regulate optical coupling.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided that includes a waveguide adjacent an air bearing surface, a near-field transducer comprising a peg having a side orthogonal to the air bearing surface and a write pole adjacent to the waveguide. The write pole includes a first portion extending towards the air bearing surface at a non-orthogonal angle with respect to the air bearing surface, and a second portion in contact with the first portion comprising a side that extends towards and orthogonally contacts the air bearing surface. The second portion or the write pole defines a gap between the side of the peg orthogonal to the air bearing surface and the side of the second portion of the write pole that extends towards and orthogonally contacts the air bearing surface. A method of making a magnetic recording head that includes the provided apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided that includes a waveguide adjacent an air bearing surface, a near-field transducer comprising a peg having a side orthogonal to the air bearing surface and a write pole adjacent to the waveguide. The write pole includes a first portion extending towards the air bearing surface at a non-orthogonal angle with respect to the air bearing surface, and a second portion in contact with the first portion comprising a side that extends towards and orthogonally contacts the air bearing surface. The second portion or the write pole defines a gap between the side of the peg orthogonal to the air bearing surface and the side of the second portion of the write pole that extends towards and orthogonally contacts the air bearing surface. A method of making a magnetic recording head that includes the provided apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are plasmonic near-field transducers that are useful in heat-assisted magnetic recording. The disclosed plasmonic near-field transducers have an enlarged region and a flared region. In some embodiments the disclosed plasmonic near-field transducer can also include a peg region. The flared region can act as a heat sink and can lower the thermal resistance of the peg region of the near-field transducer, thus reducing its temperature.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated method are generally directed to a magnetic sensor constructed with an anisotropic liner capable of screening magnetic flux. Various embodiments can have a data read element positioned on an air bearing surface adjacent a magnetic shield which is at least partially lined with an in-plane anisotropy layer.

Abstract: A compound magnetic data storage cell, applicable to spin-torque random access memory (ST-RAM), is disclosed. A magnetic data storage cell includes a magnetic storage element and two terminals communicatively connected to the magnetic storage element. The magnetic storage element is configured to yield any of at least three distinct magnetoresistance output levels, corresponding to stable magnetic configurations, in response to spin-momentum transfer inputs via the terminals.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated method are generally directed to a magnetic shield capable of screening magnetic flux with in-plane anisotropy. Various embodiments of the present invention may have at least one magnetic shield. The shield may be constructed of a Cobalt-Iridium compound capable of providing in-plane anisotropy along a longitudinal plane of the shield.

Abstract: A magnetic shield that is capable of enhancing magnetic reading, such as in use as a data transducing head. A magnetic stack can have a read element with an air bearing surface (ABS). The read element may be positioned adjacent a shield layer with a continuously curvilinear sidewall and a shield feature may be positioned within the areal extent of the continuously curvilinear sidewall.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated method are generally directed to a magnetic senor constructed with an anisotropic liner capable of screening magnetic flux. Various embodiments can have a data read element positioned on an air bearing surface adjacent a magnetic shield which is at least partially lined with an in-plane anisotropy layer.

Abstract: A magnetic shield that is capable of enhancing magnetic reading, such as in use as a data transducing head. A magnetic stack can have a read element with an air bearing surface (ABS). The read element may be positioned adjacent a shield layer with a continuously curvilinear sidewall and a shield feature may be positioned within the areal extent of the continuously curvilinear sidewall.