Abstract: A device to facilitate Thermally Assisted Magnetic Recording (TAMR), and a method for its manufacture, are described. One or more cylindrical lenses are used to focus light from a laser diode onto a wave-guide and a nearby plasmon antenna. Five embodiments of the invention are described, each one featuring a different way to couple the laser light to the optical wave-guide.

Abstract: An optical laser-activated TAMR (Thermal Assisted Magnetic Recording) slider, when normally mounted on a flexure, has an optical laser as well as other elements of its optical system exposed and subject to damage by mechanical shocks. The stand-off protective device disclosed herein, formed separately and attached to the flexure, or formed as part of the flexure itself, can protect the optical elements of such a slider from these shocks, particularly from inadvertent contacts with adjacent sliders or mechanical limiters.

Abstract: Thermal energy is generated within an optical NFT when in operation within a HAMR head. A heat-sink assembly within the HAMR head extracts thermal energy from the optical NFT and transmits the thermal energy via convection to air surrounding the HAMR head, radiation to surfaces adjacent to the HAMR head, and/or conduction to other parts of the HAMR head. The thermal energy generated within the optical NFT is conducted to the heat-sink. An air-bearing surface of the heat-sink convectively transfers at least some of the thermal energy to air passing between the air-bearing surface and a surface of an adjacent magnetic medium. Further, some of the thermal energy may also radiatively transfer from the air-bearing surface to the magnetic medium.

Abstract: A waveguide structure for a TAMR head is disclosed wherein at least one detection waveguide is formed parallel to a main waveguide and located a gap distance therefrom. A light source transmits light into the main waveguide and towards an ABS/medium interface. A plasmon generator converts light from the waveguide into plasmon waves that are directed onto a magnetic medium. Back reflected light is captured by the main waveguide, partially diverted into a detection waveguide, and transmitted to a photo detector that measures light intensity (IB) which correlates closely to the plasmon wave intensity at the ABS/medium interface. A controller linked to the photo detector is employed to calculate IB as a function of ABS/medium spacing in a non-write condition and this relationship can be used to control and maintain a constant plasmon wave intensity at the ABS during a series of TAMR write processes with a plurality of media.

Abstract: A TAMR (Thermal Assisted Magnetic Recording) write head uses the energy of optical-laser generated plasmons in a magnetic core plasmon antenna to locally heat a magnetic recording medium and reduce its coercivity and magnetic anisotropy. To enable the TAMR head to operate most effectively, the maximum gradient and value of the magnetic recording field should be at a point of the magnetic medium that is as close as possible to the point being heated. In addition, the coupling between the optical mode and the plasmon mode should be efficient so that maximum energy is transmitted to the medium. The present invention achieves both these objects by surrounding the magnetic core of a plasmon antenna by a variable thickness plasmon generating layer, whose thinnest and shortest portion is at the ABS end of the TAMR head and whose thickest and longest portion efficiently couples to the optical mode of a waveguide to produce a plasmon.

Abstract: A waveguide structure for aligning a light source to a center waveguide (CWG) in a TAMR head is disclosed and includes two alignment waveguides (AWVG) symmetrically formed about a plane that bisects the CWG lengthwise dimension. Each AWVG has a light coupling section formed parallel to a side of the CWG and captures 0.5% to 10% of the light in the CWG. Each AWVG has an outlet that directs light to a photo detector or camera so that light intensity measurements lAWVG1 and lAWVG2 for first and second AWVG, respectively, can be taken at various positions of the light source. Optimum alignment occurs when (lAWVG1+lAWVG2) reaches a maximum value and |lAWVG1?lAWVG2| has a minimum value. AWVG outlets may be at the ABS, or at the side or back end of a slider. Measurement sensitivity is increased by decreasing the width of the AWVG.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR). In an illustrative example, a device includes a magnetic write pole having a convex pole tip; a magnetic opposing pole longitudinally displaced from the magnetic write pole; and a thermal-source component disposed proximate to the magnetic write pole and comprising a laterally elongated thermal-source peg disposed proximate to the convex pole tip.

Abstract: A TAMR head is disclosed with a triangular shaped plasmon antenna covered on two sides with a plasmon layer that generates an edge plasmon mode along a vertex of the two plasmon sides formed opposite a main pole layer. A plasmon shield (PS) is formed along the ABS and opposite the vertex to confine an electric field from the edge plasmon mode within a small radius of the edge plasmon tip thereby reducing the optical spot size on the magnetic medium and enhancing writability. An end of a waveguide used to direct input electromagnetic radiation to the plasmon antenna adjoins a PS side opposite the ABS. In one embodiment, a magnetic shield may be formed along the ABS and adjoins the PS so that a first PS section terminates at the ABS and faces the vertex while a second PS section is formed between the magnetic shield and waveguide end.

Abstract: A TAMR (Thermal Assisted Magnetic Recording) write head uses the energy of optical-laser generated plasmons in a magnetic core plasmon antenna to locally heat a magnetic recording medium and reduce its coercivity and magnetic anisotropy. To enable the TAMR head to operate most effectively, the maximum gradient and value of the magnetic recording field should be at a point of the magnetic medium that is as close as possible to the point being heated. In addition, the coupling between the optical mode and the plasmon mode should be efficient so that maximum energy is transmitted to the medium. The present invention achieves both these objects by surrounding the magnetic core of a plasmon antenna by a variable thickness plasmon generating layer, whose thinnest and shortest portion is at the ABS end of the TAMR head and whose thickest and longest portion efficiently couples to the optical mode of a waveguide to produce a plasmon.

Abstract: A device for implementing thermally assisted magnetic recording, using a TE mode laser diode, and method for using it, are described. This device is shaped internally so as to provide three-dimensional self-focusing of plasmon radiation, thereby improving the coupling efficiency between the optical wave-guide and the plasmon generator as a result of ensuring a large overlap between these two modes.

Abstract: A magnetic recording head consists of a write pole and a near field transducer close to the write pole that focuses light energy to a focal point. A near field transducer is positioned to receive light energy from a waveguide. The near field transducer comprises an energy-receiving end and an energy-radiating end. The energy-receiving end is located near the focal point of the waveguide and the energy-radiating end is shaped such that it is narrower closer to the write pole and wider farther from the write pole.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a TAMR head having a magnetic core antenna (MCA) with a recessed plasmon layer are disclosed. An end of the plasmon layer is separated from the ABS by a magnetic layer that transmits the plasmon mode from the plasmon layer and transmits magnetic flux from an adjacent main pole layer. Both of the MCA and magnetic layer may have a triangular shape from an ABS view. There may be a non-magnetic separation layer between the MCA magnetic core and the main pole. Furthermore, a magnetic shield may be included with a side at the ABS, a side facing an end of a waveguide that transmits electromagnetic radiation to the MCA, and a side facing an edge of the plasmon layer. The recessed plasmon layer allows an improved overlay of the thermal heating spot on the magnetic field gradient at the magnetic medium that provides better TAMR performance.

Abstract: A TAMR head is disclosed with a triangular shaped plasmon antenna covered on two sides with a plasmon layer that generates an edge plasmon mode along a vertex of the two plasmon sides formed opposite a main pole layer. A plasmon shield (PS) is formed along the ABS and opposite the vertex to confine an electric field from the edge plasmon mode within a small radius of the edge plasmon tip thereby reducing the optical spot size on the magnetic medium and enhancing writability. An end of a waveguide used to direct input electromagnetic radiation to the plasmon antenna adjoins a PS side opposite the ABS. In one embodiment, a magnetic shield may be formed along the ABS and adjoins the PS so that a first PS section terminates at the ABS and faces the vertex while a second PS section is formed between the magnetic shield and waveguide end.

Abstract: A magnetic recording head comprises a write pole having a pole tip adjacent to an air bearing surface, a return pole, an optical near field transducer positioned adjacent the pole tip and an air bearing surface for exposing a portion of a magnetic storage medium to high energy radiation. The energy is directly provided to the near field transducer by a ridge waveguide with tapered coupling elements, by a two dimensional straight or curved waveguide with a beveled end with a metal/dielectric coating for delivering energy to the near field transducer, or by a curved waveguide. The waveguide with tapered coupling elements or with beveled end can be fabricated by means of conventional wafer processing.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a slider mounted on an arm, a first waveguide including a first core guiding layer, a second waveguide mounted on the slider and including a second core guiding layer having a uniform thickness smaller than the thickness of the first core guiding layer, and a coupler for coupling light from the first core guiding layer to the second core guiding layer, wherein the coupler comprises a curved mirror formed in the second waveguide and positioned to reflect light from the first core guiding layer into the second core guiding layer.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR). In an illustrative example, a device includes a magnetic write pole having a convex pole tip; a magnetic opposing pole longitudinally displaced from the magnetic write pole; and a thermal-source component disposed proximate to the magnetic write pole and comprising a laterally elongated thermal-source peg disposed proximate to the convex pole tip.

Abstract: A TAMR (Thermal Assisted Magnetic Recording) write head uses the energy of optical-laser generated plasmons in a plasmon generator to locally heat a magnetic recording medium and reduce its coercivity and magnetic anisotropy. To enable the TAMR head to operate most effectively, the antenna is formed in three portions, a wide portion of uniform horizontal area, a tapered portion tapering towards the ABS of the write head and a narrow tip extending from the tapered portion to the ABS. The wide portion enhances coupling of optical radiation from a waveguide to surface plasmons generated within the generator, the tapered portion condenses and focuses the plasmons as they propagate towards the ABS and the narrow tip further focuses the surface plasmon field at the medium surface.

Abstract: A device to facilitate Thermally Assisted Magnetic Recording (TAMR), and a method for its manufacture, are described. One or more cylindrical lenses are used to focus light from a laser diode onto a wave-guide and a nearby plasmon antenna. Five embodiments of the invention are described, each one featuring a different way to couple the laser light to the optical wave-guide.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR). In an illustrative example, a device includes a magnetic write pole having a convex pole tip; a magnetic opposing pole longitudinally displaced from the magnetic write pole; and a thermal-source component disposed proximate to the magnetic write pole and comprising a laterally elongated thermal-source peg disposed proximate to the convex pole tip.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a recording media including a substrate, a plurality of islands of magnetic material on the substrate, and a non-magnetic material between the islands, a recording head having an air bearing surface positioned adjacent to the recording media, and including a magnetic pole, and an optical transducer, wherein the optical transducer directs electromagnetic radiation onto recording media to heat portions of the recording media and a magnetic field from the magnetic pole is used to set the direction of the magnetization in the heated portions of the recording media, and a plurality of near-field transducers, each positioned adjacent to one of the islands to increase coupling between the electromagnetic radiation and the magnetic material.