Abstract: An apparatus includes a solid immersion mirror with opposing, reflective, inner sidewalls having inner surfaces facing a focal region and outer surfaces opposite the inner surfaces. The solid immersion mirror also include opposing outer sidewalls spaced apart from and facing the outer surfaces of the inner sidewalls, and a fill material between the inner sidewalls and outer sidewalls. The apparatus also includes a near-field transducer located in the focal region proximate a media-facing surface.

Abstract: An apparatus has a near-field transducer located proximate a media-facing surface of a slider magnetic recording heat. A waveguide is configured to couple light to the near-field transducer and includes a top cladding layer facing the near-field transducer, a bottom cladding layer, and a core layer between the top and bottom cladding layers. The apparatus includes a write pole with a flat portion substantially parallel to the core layer and a sloped portion extending from the flat portion of the write pole towards the media-facing surface at an angle to the core layer and to the media-facing surface. A light mitigation layer is located between the top cladding layer and the write pole.

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 that includes a write pole, the write pole including a magnetic material; a near field transducer-heat sink (NFT-HS), the NFT-HS including a noble metal; and a power source configured to electrically bias the write pole with respect to a second structure.

Abstract: An apparatus that includes a write pole, the write pole including a magnetic material; a near field transducer-heat sink (NFT-HS), the NFT-HS including a noble metal; and a power source configured to electrically bias the write pole with respect to a second structure.

Abstract: A micromachined mover includes a rotor substrate and a stator substrate. A suspension is configured to couple the rotor substrate to the stator substrate and allow relative movement therebetween in a plane of the substrates. The suspension is positioned on an interior portion of the substrates.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first array of electrodes and a second array of electrodes separated by a gap, and a controller for imposing a voltage on a plurality of electrodes in the first array of electrodes, wherein the magnitude of the voltage changes in response to an operating parameter of the apparatus.

Abstract: A microcolumn including an assembly substrate and a plurality of beam modification components. The assembly substrate includes a plurality of sockets, and the beam modification components each include a connector coupled to a corresponding one of the sockets. Assembly of the beam modification components to the assembly substrate may employ automation and/or automated calibration, including automated motion of robotic stages in a substantially automated manner.

Abstract: A microcolumn including a plurality of beam modification components coupled to an assembly substrate, wherein the plurality of beam modification components includes: (1) an extractor component; (2) a first focusing electrode component; (3) a first anode component; (4) a first deflector component; (5) a second focusing electrode component; (6) a second deflector component; (7) a third focusing electrode component; (8) a third deflector component; (9) a second anode component; (10) a fourth focusing electrode component; and (11) a third anode component. The beam modification components may be ordered on the substrate in this sequence or other sequences.

Abstract: A microcolumn including a plurality of beam modification components coupled to an assembly substrate, wherein the plurality of beam modification components includes: (1) an extractor component; (2) a first focusing electrode component; (3) a first anode component; (4) a first deflector component; (5) a second focusing electrode component; (6) a second deflector component; (7) a third focusing electrode component; (8) a third deflector component; (9) a second anode component; (10) a fourth focusing electrode component; and (11) a third anode component. The beam modification components may be ordered on the substrate in this sequence or other sequences.

Abstract: A microcolumn including an assembly substrate and a plurality of beam modification components. The assembly substrate includes a plurality of sockets, and the beam modification components each include a connector coupled to a corresponding one of the sockets. Assembly of the beam modification components to the assembly substrate may employ automation and/or automated calibration, including automated motion of robotic stages in a substantially automated manner.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for controlling operational weld parameters of a welding-based deposition process includes generating a solid model representing a three-dimensional part on a computer, electronically slicing the solid model into a plurality of electronic two-dimensional layers, identifying a path of material deposition based on the electronic two-dimensional layers, the path comprising a plurality of deposition points, and determining a geometrical factor for each deposition point. The geometrical factor is defined by a ratio of an actual volume of material around each deposition point to a theoretical volume of material around each deposition point. The method further includes automatically adjusting, during material deposition for a respective deposition point, one or more parameters of the welding-based deposition process based on the geometrical factor for the respective deposition point.