Abstract: A slider resistant to lubricant accumulation. The slider resistant to lubricant accumulation includes a positive-air-pressure portion of the slider configured to levitate the slider above a magnetic-recording disk and a negative-air-pressure portion of the slider configured to bring the slider into proximity with the magnetic-recording disk at a fly height sufficient for writing data to and reading data from the magnetic-recording disk. The slider resistant to lubricant accumulation also includes a lubricant-accumulation barrier disposed in proximity to a trailing edge of the slider. The lubricant-accumulation barrier is configured to reduce lubricant accumulation on the slider.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for forming a head gimbal assembly (HGA). In accordance with various embodiments, a slider is formed with opposing first and second side surfaces, an air bearing feature on said first side surface and a dimple extending from said second side surface adapted to facilitate multi-axial rotation of the slider.

Abstract: A PMR writer is disclosed that minimizes pole erasure during non-writing and maximize write field during writing through an AFM-FM phase change material that is in an antiferromagnetic (AFM) state during non-writing and switches to a ferromagnetic (FM) state by heating during writing. The main pole layer including the write pole may be comprised of a laminated structure having a plurality of “n” ferromagnetic layers and “n?1” AFM-FM phase change material layers arranged in an alternating manner. The AFM-FM phase change material is preferably a FeRh, FeRhPt, FeRhPd, or FeRhIr and may also be used as a flux gate to prevent yoke flux from leaking into the write pole tip. Heating for the AFM to FM transition is provided by write coils and/or a coil located near the AFM-FM phase change material to enable faster transition times.

Abstract: A system according to one embodiment includes a thin film stack having a magnetic transducer and a contact pad; and a heater in the thin film stack for inducing thermal protrusion of a media-facing side of the thin film stack, wherein the thin film stack is characterized by the contact pad protruding farther than the magnetic transducer upon the thin film stack being heated by the heater. A method for calibrating a protrusion of a magnetic head includes increasing a thermal protrusion of a magnetic head to induce head-medium contact; determining that the head has contacted the medium, wherein a portion of the head that contacts the medium is a contact pad or overcoat of the contact pad; determining parameters for inducing a desired amount of protrusion based in part on the determination that the head has contacted the medium; and storing the parameters.

Abstract: A head slider for a disk drive storage device. The head slider is adapted to fly at the target height above the disk, reduce contamination by preventing particles from being trapped under the head slider, fly well in helium at low velocity and obtain a manufacturing tolerance so that multiple head sliders may be produced and function properly. The head slider has an internal cavity that is substantially enclosed by the air bearing surface. There are two gaps in the air bearing surface that are misaligned relative to the leading edge. The gaps aid in preventing particles from entering the cavity.

Abstract: A slider for magnetic data recording having a semiconductor based magnetoresistive sensor such as a Lorentz magnetoresistive sensor formed on an air bearing surface of the slider body. The slider is constructed of Si, which advantageously provides a needed physical robustness as well being compatible with the construction of a semiconductor based sensor thereon. A series of transition layers are provided between the surface of the Si slider body and the semiconductor based magnetoresistive sensor in order to provide a necessary grain structure for proper functioning of the sensor. The series of transition layers can be constructed of layers of SiGe each having a unique concentration of Ge.

Abstract: A magnetic head device includes a slider with a facing side and a magnetic function part. The facing side of the slider includes a front positive pressure surface located close to a leading end of the slider, a rear positive pressure surface located close to a trailing end of the slider, and a pair of side positive pressure surfaces located closer to the trailing end than the front positive pressure surface and disposed at both sides of a longitudinally extending centerline. Air inlet grooves for introducing air into the side positive pressure surfaces are each disposed in front of each side positive pressure surface. Each air inlet groove extends between the front positive pressure surface and a corresponding side face of the slider and opens toward a leading end face of the slider.

Abstract: A main surface of a glass substrate for a magnetic disk is disk-shaped and has a ski jump on an outer peripheral end portion of the main surface opposing a magnetic head slider to be loaded. A rate of change of angles of tangents to a slope of the ski jump in a radial direction in a range between an inner circumferential side and a transition point on the slope is equal to or less than 10/W ?rad/mm where W is a width of the magnetic head slider.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a facing surface of a slider of a head includes a leading step on an inflow side of the slider, a leading pad on the leading step, a pair of side steps extending in a first direction from the leading step toward an outflow end of the slider and opposed to each other across a space in a second direction, side pads provided on the side steps to be continuous with the side pads, individually, a trailing step located on an outflow side of the airflow and provided with a head section, and induction grooves continuously extending from the leading pad to the side pads, individually, and configured to guide introduced airflow.

Abstract: A method for forming micro-texture on an air bearing surface of a magnetic read/write slider, includes: positioning sliders arranged in arrays on a tray, each slider having a pole tip facing upward; loading the tray into a processing chamber, which is then evacuated to a preset pressure; and introducing a processing gas containing oxygen into the processing chamber; exposing the sliders to etch the surface of the slider so as to form a clear two-step structure thereon.

Abstract: A head slider with a pocket. An air bearing surface. A central levitating surface. A magnetic recording head provided in proximity to a trailing edge side of the central levitating surface. A deep recessed surface provided on both sides of the head slider in a width direction of the head slider with respect to the central levitating surface, wherein the deep recessed surface is configured to generate negative air pressure. A second deep recessed surface extending from a leading edge side of the central levitating surface. A levitating surface provided on a leading edge side of the deep recessed surface and a second levitating surface provided between the deep recessed surface and the second deep recessed surface, wherein the pocket is provided whose depth from the levitating surface and the second levitating surface is deeper than a periphery immediately in front of a terminus of the second deep recessed surface.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a write pole and a magnetic shield for write heads. The write pole includes a trailing step, while the magnetic shield includes a slanted bump. The slanted bump and the trailing step provides maximize magnetic flux for writing to a magnetic media such as a magnetic storage disk in a hard disk drive, while avoiding saturation. One embodiment of a method for forming the write pole includes depositing non-magnetic gap material on the write pole and trailing step. An ion beam milling process is used to form a taper in the non-magnetic gap material. The magnetic shield is then deposited on the taper, forming the slanted bump of the shield.

Abstract: A magnetic-recording-disk test-head. The magnetic-recording-disk test-head includes a slider, a test pad and a slider-surface-shape control mechanism. The slider includes a leading edge and a trailing edge. The test pad is disposed at a trailing-edge side of the slider and is configured to remove and to detect asperities on a magnetic-recording disk. The slider-surface-shape control mechanism is configured to change a shape of an air-bearing surface of the slider and is disposed at a leading-edge side of the slider.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated method for a slider pad that allows for contact to be mitigated without plastic deformation. Various embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to a slider that presents a transducer and has at least one air bearing surface (ABS) feature. The ABS feature comprises a pair of sidewalls spaced a distance X apart. A pad is deposited on the ABS feature so that the pad comprises a hemispherical cross-section and has a circumferential diameter greater than X.

Abstract: A method for forming micro-texture on ABS of a slider, includes steps of: positioning sliders arranged in arrays on a tray, each slider having a pole tip facing upward; loading the tray into a processing chamber, and evacuating the processing chamber to a preset pressure; introducing a mixture gas of inert gas and hydrocarbon gas into the processing chamber, and ionizing the mixture gas to produce ion beams; exposing the sliders to the ion beam for etching so as to form micro-texture with two-step structure on the ABS of the slider. The invention also discloses a method of manufacturing a slider having micro-texture.

Abstract: A magnetic head slider comprising: an air inflow end; an air bearing surface; and an air outflow end, the air bearing surface comprising: an inflow side rail face further formed towards the air inflow end than the center of the air bearing surface; an outflow side rail face formed further towards the air outflow end than the inflow side rail face, having a magnetic recording/reproduction element arranged thereon; a negative pressure groove face formed between the inflow side rail face and the outflow side rail face; and a groove face formed between the inflow side rail face and the negative pressure groove face, or between the inflow side rail face and the outflow side rail face; and comprising at least one step structure shallower than the groove face at the slider end in the width direction of the groove face.

Abstract: An assembly includes a slider having an air bearing surface and a slider mounting surface opposite the air bearing surface. The slider mounting surface includes first, second, third, and fourth slider pads. A first slider trace electrically shorts the first slider pad with the third slider pad. A second slider trace electrically shorts the second slider pad with the fourth slider pad. A transducing head is supported by the slider. The transducing head includes a positive terminal electrically connected to the first slider pad and a negative terminal electrically connected to the second slider pad. The first, second, third, and fourth slider pads can be connected to pads on a connection circuit with interleaved traces.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a magnetic transducer are disclosed. The method and system include providing a magnetic element that includes a free layer, a pinned layer, and a nonmagnetic spacer layer between the free layer and the pinned layer. The nonmagnetic spacer layer is a tunneling barrier layer. The free layer is configured to be biased in a first direction. The pinned layer has a pinned layer magnetization configured to be pinned in a second direction that is at a first angle from perpendicular to the ABS. The first angle is nonzero and different from ninety degrees. The second direction and the first direction form a second angle that is different from ninety degrees.

Abstract: A transducer includes magnetic material formed on a substrate that is shaped to include a trailing edge, a leading edge and a pair of opposing sidewalls extending between the trailing edge and the leading edge. A layer of protective material is positioned in contact with each of the pair of sidewalls of the shaped magnetic material. Backfill material surrounds the protective material on each of the pair of sidewalls of the shaped magnetic material.

Abstract: A magnetic writer comprises a write pole, a substrate and a non-magnetic, oxygen-free buffer material. The write pole has a leading edge, a trailing edge, a first side and second side. The substrate is at the leading edge of the write pole. The non-magnetic, oxygen-free buffer material is located between the write pole and the substrate.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for microwave-assisted magnetic recording with collocated microwave and write fields. An illustrative device includes a magnetic write pole and one or more alternating-field components. The magnetic write pole is configured for providing a magnetic write field. The one or more alternating-field components are disposed to at least partially coincide with the magnetic write pole. The one or more alternating-field components are configured to provide an alternating magnetic field having a microwave frequency and an orientation that is at least partially transverse to the magnetic write field.

Abstract: A slider designed to reduce fly height sigma in a plurality of fly media is provided. The slider includes an air bearing surface, a front shallow step pad and a rear shallow step pad that are at a first level deeper than the air bearing surface. The slider further includes a first rear side pocket that is at a second level deeper than the air bearing surface, the first side pocket substantially polygon shaped and a second rear non-symmetrical side pocket non-symmetrical with the first rear side pocket that is at the second level deeper than the air bearing surface, the second side pockets substantially polygon shaped wherein the second rear non-symmetrical side pocket comprises a larger volume than the first rear side pocket.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a head slider air bearing surface (ABS) in hard disk drives that mitigate fly height deviations. The invention mitigates these problems by providing an ABS of the head slider with elongated asymmetrical features that extend substantially parallel to the direction of the airflow caused by the rotating magnetic disk, in one or both of the inner diameter (ID) and outer diameter (OD) positions of the head slider with respect to the magnetic disk. The head slider may be produced with a two step etch process, as opposed to a three step etch process. By reducing the number of etching steps, the head slider of the invention can be produced at lower costs and in less time as fewer masks and chamber pump-down steps are required.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a head slider includes an element unit formed by lamination on a substrate, a cut surface formed by cutting the substrate, an air-bearing surface configured to face a recording medium when in flight, a protective layer configured to protect at least the air-bearing surface of the element unit, and a coating layer configured to cover at least the cut surface exclusive of the air-bearing surface of the element unit. An outermost surface of the air-bearing surface is formed of the protective layer in the element unit at the least.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a head slider includes a magnetic head, a medium facing surface, a flow-in end surface, a flow-out end surface, side surfaces, and an absorbing structure. The magnetic head reads and writes information with respect to a magnetic recording medium. The medium facing surface faces the magnetic recording medium. From the flow-in end surface, an airflow generated by rotation of the magnetic recording medium flows in. To the flow-out end surface, the airflow is guided from the flow-in end surface through the medium facing surface. The side surfaces are located on both sides of the medium facing surface. The absorbing structure is provided to at least one of the flow-out end surface and the side surfaces. The absorbing structure absorbs flowing substances guided with the airflow.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling lubrication in hard disk drives. Hard disk drives often include lubrication on the disks to protect the disks from incidental contact with the head slider. Embodiments of the invention include lubrication control recesses on the air bearing surface (ABS) of the head slider. The recesses reduce air stagnation on the ABS and/or store excess lubrication that migrates from the disk to the head slider. By reducing build-up of lubrication and storing excess lubrication, the lubrication control recesses avoid failure that may occur as a result of the lubrication interfering with the ABS or the read/write elements of the head.

Abstract: A layered structure includes an amorphous Ta layer, a metallic oxide layer formed from zinc oxide (ZnO) or magnesium oxide (MgO) on the Ta layer, and a FePt magnetic layer formed on the metallic oxide layer. Therefore, an L10 structural FePt ordered alloy is obtained at a temperature of 300° C. or lower.

Abstract: The head slider has a plurality of heaters each heating a corresponding region of the ABS, and a sensor detecting collision of the ABS with a projection on a surface of the magnetic disk. Currents supplied to the respective heaters are controlled and produce heats independently of one another. The heats produce projections on the corresponding regions of the ABS, respectively. The ABS with asperity can be planarized through appropriately controlling magnitude of the currents supplied to the heaters. Thus, the variation of a sensor output depending on asperity of the ABS is effectively reduced. Another head slider has a heater locally heating a corresponding region of the ABS. The heater has a structure where a central portion is away from the ABS compared with end portions, or a structure where calorific power of a central portion is smaller than that of each of end portions. Thus, overall projection shape becomes flat.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a head slider includes a center pad, a pair of center rails, and a center rail connection wall. The center pad is located in the center on the air outflow end side. The center rails extend toward the air inflow end side continuously from the center pad. The center rail connection wall connects the ends of the center rails on the air inflow end side to surround a space between the center pad and the center rails, and has a height between the top surface and the bottom surface of a floating surface.

Abstract: Magnetic disk drives and associated methods are described for performing an active flying height compensation process for a slider of a magnetic disk drive. For the flying height compensation process, a control system in the disk drive detects a reduction in flying height of a slider in the disk drive. The control system then calculates a compensation heating power to apply to one or more heating elements that are fabricated in the slider to compensate for the reduction in flying height. The control system then applies the compensation heating power to the heating element(s) in the slider to alter the ABS (i.e., generate a protrusion) and increase the flying height of the slider.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic head slider includes: a magnetic head; a slider main body configured to be provided with the magnetic head; a first protrusion portion configured to be provided on the slider main body so as to abut the magnetic head; a second protrusion portion configured to be provided on a top surface of the first protrusion portion; and a cutout portion configured to be provided to an edge portion on the top surface of the second protrusion portion, the edge portion being on a side of the top surface.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a storage device includes a storage medium and a head slider. The storage medium includes a surface coated with a lubricant. The head slider includes a medium facing surface that faces a surface of the storage medium based on the relative movement to the storage medium. The product ph [atm·nm] of air pressure p [atm] defined between the surface of the storage medium and the medium facing surface and a floating amount h [nm] of the medium facing surface defined from the surface of the storage medium satisfies ph?0.0129 Mn+71.344 with respect to the molecular weight Mn of the lubricant.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a rotatable storage disk, a suspension, and a slider assembly. The slider assembly includes a slider body, a read/write head that magnetically interacts with the storage disk, and a slider mover. The slider body is secured to the suspension in a fashion that allows the slider body to roll. The slider mover selectively rolls the slider body in a controlled fashion. With this design, the slider mover selectively rolls the slider body to control a head-to-disk spacing of the read/write head. Further, the slider body can have a roll axis and the read/write head and the slider mover can be positioned on opposite sides of the roll axis.

Abstract: A slider having an improved atmospheric pressure variation characteristic can be provided by ensuring the desired amount of inflow of air flowing to the air bearing surface in a region where it is difficult to ensure the desired air inflow amount, e.g., a region where the slider/disk relative speed is low or a region where the area of the air bearing surface is small by forming a groove configuration surface in a specified shape. In the negative pressure utilization type slider, a groove configuration surface lower in height than an air in flow surface is formed between the disk inner peripheral end and the disk outer peripheral end of the air inflow surface in the air flow incoming end side of a pressure generating surface, separately from a negative pressure generating surface.

Abstract: A system according to one embodiment includes a thin film stack having a magnetic transducer and a contact pad; and a heater in the thin film stack for inducing thermal protrusion of a media-facing side of the thin film stack, wherein the thin film stack is characterized by the contact pad protruding farther than the magnetic transducer upon the thin film stack being heated by the heater. A method for calibrating a protrusion of a magnetic head includes increasing a thermal protrusion of a magnetic head to induce head-medium contact; determining that the head has contacted the medium, wherein a portion of the head that contacts the medium is a contact pad or overcoat of the contact pad; determining parameters for inducing a desired amount of protrusion based in part on the determination that the head has contacted the medium; and storing the parameters.

Abstract: A slider for use with disk drive data storage devices includes a topography that defines features of the slider. The features facilitate in controlling fly-height and/or inhibiting lubricant accumulation on the slider. For example, a trailing air bearing surface of the slider may be formed around a multi-stepped channel that adjusts the fly-height. Further, a shallow shelf behind an air bearing surface and/or curved edges of the features to alter stagnation may contribute to at least inhibiting lubricant collection on the slider.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a head slider, includes: a slider body; an insulating nonmagnetic film configured to be laminated on an air outflow side end face of the slider body; a magnetoresistive effect film configured to be buried in the nonmagnetic film; first and second wiring patterns configured to be buried in the nonmagnetic film and connected to the magnetoresistive effect film; a third wiring pattern configured to be buried in the nonmagnetic film and connected to the first and second wiring pattern in parallel to the magnetoresistive effect film; and a switch element configured to be buried in the nonmagnetic film and change conductivity of the third wiring pattern between conduction and non-conduction.

Abstract: A magnetic write head for data recording having a magnetic write pole with a stepped magnetic shell structure that defines a secondary flare point. The secondary flare point defined by the magnetic shell portion can be more tightly controlled with respect to its distance from the air bearing surface (ABS) of the write head than can a traditional flare point that is photolithographically on the main pole structure. This allows the effective flare point of the write head to be moved much closer to the ABS than would otherwise be possible using currently available tooling and photolithography techniques. The write head also includes a non-magnetic spacer layer formed over the magnetic shell structure that is recessed from the ABS by a distance that is greater than that of the magnetic shell portion. A magnetic shield is formed over the magnetic shell and non-magnetic spacer.

Abstract: A slider for use with disk drive data storage devices includes a topography that defines features of the slider. The features facilitate in controlling peak pressure, providing stiffness, and/or inhibiting lubricant accumulation on the slider. For example, the features include an air bearing surface and a cavity disposed in front of the air bearing surface. The cavity is closed on all sides by sidewalls.

Abstract: A magnetic disk apparatus includes a magnetic disk, a spindle motor for rotation of the magnetic disk, and a slider formed with a magnetic head for information reading or writing with respect to the magnetic disk. The slider is arranged to float above the surface of the magnetic disk when the disk is rotating. The magnetic disk apparatus also includes a swing arm for supporting and moving the slider above the magnetic disk, and a ramp disposed adjacent to the outer circumference of the magnetic disk for holding the slider at a withdrawal position which is spaced away from the surface of the magnetic disk. For an information leakage prevention, a hitting mechanism is provided, which is arranged to hit the slider held at the withdrawal position.

Abstract: A magnetic head slider floats by a flow of air formed by rotation of a magnetic recording medium. The magnetic head slider includes: a slider body arranged that faces a surface of the magnetic recording medium and that floats by the flow of air; an insulating layer that is provided at an end of the slider body at an outflow side of the flow of air and that includes a magnetic head element; and a projection shape part arranged at an end of the insulating layer at an outflow side of the flow of air for preventing deposition of a lubricating material deposited on the surface of the magnetic recording medium onto the magnetic head slider.

Abstract: A head slider includes a base surface extending in a first direction and a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, a pair of side pads that are spaced apart from each other in the second direction on the base surface and have air bearing faces of a predetermined height from the base surface, a pair of rib portions that extend from the side pads to an end of the base surface in the first direction and have faces of a height between the base surface and the air bearing faces, and a joint portion that connects opposing ends of the pair of rib portions in the first direction and has a face of a height between the base surface and the air bearing faces.

Abstract: A DFH (Dynamic Flying Height) type slider ABS design has a stable flying height and a DFH efficiency that is uniform across the entire disk surface. These properties are a result of embedding the read/write head and heater in a trapezoidally bridged micro-pad having a very small surface area. The micro-pad is surrounded by a wing-like structure that projects from a central rail in the ABS and the micro pad is connected to an inner edge of that structure by a bridge having a trapezoidal shape. The trapezoidal shape responds effectively to variations in air flow direction and pressure point as the slider moves across the disk surface and, as a result, provides the uniform DFH efficiency. At the same time, the projecting wings and adjacent topology help to direct the airflow around the micro-pad and provide the stable flying height.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a slider of a head comprises a negative-pressure cavity formed in a facing surface, a leading step portion situated on an inflow side of the negative-pressure cavity, a pair of side portions opposed to each other, a trailing step portion situated on an outflow side of the negative-pressure cavity, a leading pad provided on an end portion of the leading step portion on the negative-pressure cavity side, and a plurality of recesses formed on the inflow side of the leading pad and individually opening in the inflow-side end face. The leading step portion includes a main step portion which is situated beside the inflow side of the leading pad and extends in a second direction, and at least one extended step portion extending transversely to the second direction from the main step portion toward the inflow side and situated between the recesses.

Abstract: A compliant, flexible air bearing slider (ABS) reduces the contact forces between the slider and disk, thereby reducing excessive burnishing and wear and increasing the reliability of the slider. According to an embodiment, an ABS has at least one “compliance-enhancing feature” which reduces the bending mode vibration frequency of the slider. By causing the slider to flex, and bringing the bending mode vibration frequency closer to the pitch 2 eigenmode frequency, coupling of the different vibration modes can be obtained. Thus, the different vibration modes can effectively dampen each other and result in reduced contact forces between the slider and disk.

Abstract: A contact surface of a contact head slider is received on a film of a lubricant on a storage medium. The rotation of the storage medium allows the contact surface to slide on the surface of the storage medium. The lubricant adheres to the contact surface. The groove is formed on the rear rail between the contact surface and an air bearing surface. The lubricant on the contact surface is forced to flow into the groove based on so-called meniscus effect. Since the air bearing surface extends at a level lower than that of the contact surface, the air bearing surface is prevented from adhesion of the lubricant. A positive pressure is thus reliably generated at the air bearing surface. The contact head slider is allowed to slide on the surface of the storage medium with a high stability.

Abstract: A method of forming a pole tip topography associated with an air bearing surface (ABS) of a hard disk drive slider is disclosed. The method etches an exposed pole tip region of an ABS at a first angle with respect to the ABS to remove an irregularity from the exposed pole tip region and to flatten the exposed pole tip region. The exposed pole tip region lacks a photo-resist layer. The method also includes etching the flattened exposed pole tip region of the ABS at a second angle with respect to the ABS to form a recession with reference to the ABS.

Abstract: A slider for use in a magnetic data recording system that is constructed from a Si wafer by a method that saves valuable wafer real estate by minimizing kerf related to the cutting of the wafer into slider rows. The sliders are produced from a (110) oriented Si wafer, and the sliders are parsed into rows by a process that involves forming a mask having a trench or opening between the rows of sliders at the location of the desired cut and parallel to a vertical (111) plane of the wafer. The wafer is then exposed to KOH which removes wafer material in the vertical direction through the wafer without removing wafer material in the horizontal direction. The vertical removal of wafer material is due to the extreme preferential removal of the (110) surface Si over that of the (111) surface Si. This results in a narrow straight trench being formed. The KOH etch removal can form a trench or cut having a width of only 30 to 50 um through a 1 mm thick wafer.

Abstract: A head or slider having a sensor element to detect changes in head-media spacing is disclosed. In illustrated embodiments the sensor element includes a piezoelectric sensor layer or similar layer that provides acoustic emission or vibration responsive to changes in head-media spacing. In illustrated embodiments, the sensor element is located proximate to the close point of the head and slider. In embodiments described in the specification, output from the sensor element is utilized to energize a heating element or microactuator to control pole tip protrusion or actuation of transducer elements responsive to changes in head-media spacing.

Abstract: A magnetic head slider includes a magnetic head element for reading or writing data from or into a magnetic recording medium. The magnetic head slider flies over the magnetic recording medium by an air flow generated by rotation of the magnetic recording medium. The magnetic head slider includes a slider substrate including a center pad for supporting the magnetic head element, the center pad having a sliding surface opposing the magnetic recording medium and a side surface at a downstream side of the air flow, the slider substrate including a concave portion having a bottom surface recessed from the sliding surface; and an insulating layer covering the side surface of the slider substrate, the insulating layer having an edge surface adjacent to the bottom surface of the concave portion, the edge surface having substantially the same plane with the bottom surface of the concave portion.