Abstract: A magnetic memory device includes a substrate; a first magnetoresistive effect element; and a second magnetoresistive effect element provided at a side of the first magnetoresistive effect element opposite to a side of the first magnetoresistive effect element at which the substrate is provided. A heat absorption rate of the first magnetoresistive effect element is lower than a heat absorption rate of the second magnetoresistive effect element.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL), a head gimbal assembly for mounting a VCSEL, devices incorporating such articles, and to a process for forming a VCSEL. In an embodiment, a VCSEL device provided. The VCSEL device includes a chip for mounting on a slider, the chip having a plurality of surfaces and a notch, the plurality of surfaces comprising: a bottom surface for facing the slider; a top surface opposite the bottom surface; and a plurality of side surfaces, wherein the notch forms a recessed edge spaced away from the bottom surface and toward the top surface, the notch having a shoulder, a side, and an angle (?1) between the shoulder and the side. The VCSEL device further includes two laser diode electrodes positioned in any combination on one or more of the plurality of surfaces of the chip.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) head that includes a near-field transducer (NFT) with a trailing bevel. Also disclosed are sliders and data storage devices comprising those HAMR heads, and methods of manufacturing HAMR heads with NFTs having trailing bevels. A HAMR head comprises a waveguide core, a main pole, and a NFT comprising a trailing beveled edge at an acute angle to an air-bearing surface (ABS) of the HAMR head. A method of fabricating a HAMR head comprises depositing material for a NFT, creating a trailing-side surface of the NFT, and creating a trailing beveled edge in the trailing-side surface of the NFT at the ABS, and forming a dielectric layer over the trailing beveled edge. The trailing beveled edge is at an acute angle to the ABS, and a remainder of the trailing-side surface of the NFT is substantially perpendicular to the ABS.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a slider configured for heat-assisted magnetic recording. The slider includes an input coupler configured to receive light excited by a light source. The slider includes a waveguide core tapering along a light propagation direction from a first cross-sectional width to a second cross-sectional width, the waveguide configured to provide a surface plasmon-enhanced near-field radiation pattern proximate an output end in response to the received light. One or more cladding layers surround the waveguide core. At least one strip of plasmonic material is disposed between the waveguide core and at least one of the one or more cladding layers.

Abstract: A waveguide coupler may be coupled to a multi-beam light source, such as an array of superluminescent light-emitting diodes. The waveguide coupler includes a substrate having an end facet and a surface, e.g. a top flat surface, adjoining the end facet. At least one tilted reflector is supported by the substrate. A plurality of waveguides supported by the substrate extend between the end facet and the at least one tilted reflector. The at least one tilted reflector is configured to redirect light propagating in the plurality of waveguides to the surface of the substrate. In this manner, the waveguide coupler may provide an array of surface emission points on a substrate. All the surface emission points are disposed in one plane and may be suitably configured for subsequent joint collimation for use e.g. in a scanning projector display.

Abstract: A recording head includes a waveguide core and write pole extending to a media-facing surface of the recording head. A near-field transducer is located between the waveguide core and the write pole. First and second side shields are located on either crosstrack side of the near-field transducer. The first and second shields have edges facing and conformal with first and second tapered sides and a peg of the near-field transducer such that there are respective first and second constant-width gaps therebetween.

Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) medium has a non-magnetic multilayered overcoat on the recording layer. The overcoat includes a heat-dissipation layer, a diamond-like carbon (DLC) layer on and in contact with the heat-dissipation layer, and an optional interface layer between and in contact with the recording layer and the heat-dissipation layer. The heat-dissipation layer is a material with relatively high in-plane thermal conductivity, substantially higher than the in-plane thermal conductivity of both the DLC layer and the recording layer. The heat-dissipation layer laterally spreads the heat generated in the DLC layer by absorption of light from the near-field transducer to thereby reduce the temperature of the DLC layer. The optional interface layer is a material with relatively low thermal conductivity and increases the thermal resistance between the recording layer and the heat-dissipation layer.

Abstract: A write head includes a first surface-plasmonic plate proximate a magnetic pole and recessed from a media-facing surface of the write head. A bottom surface of the first surface-plasmonic plate faces away from the magnetic pole and towards a waveguide core. The first surface-plasmonic plate is formed of a first material having lower-loss in plasmonic coupling than a second material, the second material being more mechanically robust than the first material. A second surface-plasmonic plate is formed of the second material and located on the bottom surface of the first surface-plasmonic plate. A lower edge of the second surface-plasmonic plate extends closer to the media-facing surface than the first surface-plasmonic plate. An upper edge of the second surface-plasmonic plate is slanted in a downtrack direction.

Abstract: A recording head comprises a waveguide extending to an air-bearing surface, and the waveguide comprises a core surrounded by cladding layers. A near-field transducer is disposed on a first side of the core, and a reflector, comprising a layer of metallic material, is disposed on a second side of the core facing away from the first side. The reflector extends beyond the core in a cross-track direction and extends in a direction normal to the air-bearing surface. The reflector has a thickness in a downtrack direction of less than 200 nm.

Abstract: An all-solid state optical transmit/receive terminal includes binary optical switches to steer an optical beam, without mechanical components, phased array of emitters/collectors or large number of phase shifters. A lens optically couples a surface array of emitters/collectors to free space, giving each emitter/collector a respective direction in free space. The emitters/collectors are also coupled, via an “H-tree” or other branched optical waveguide network, to a common input/output port, and from there to a receiver and/or transmitter. The binary optical switches are disposed at optical junctions of the optical waveguide network. ON switches pass an optical signal through the optical waveguide network, between the common input/output port and one or more selected emitter/collectors, thereby selecting a free space direction(s). Only a relatively small subset of the binary optical switches needs to be ON, therefore powered, simultaneously at any given time.

Abstract: A luminous module for an automotive vehicle, including at least one light source each associated with a light-entrance member of a primary optical component that is placed facing a projecting secondary optical component formed by a mirror. The module has three surfaces for treating the geometric aberration of the light rays, two of which are borne by the primary optical component. The exit face of the light-entrance member is placed in a plane coincident with an object focal plane of the projecting system formed by the primary and secondary optical components.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a substrate. A laser is formed on a non-self supporting structure and bonded to the substrate. A waveguide is deposited proximate the laser. The waveguide is configured to communicate light from the laser to a near-field transducer that directs energy resulting from plasmonic excitation to a recording medium. A light detector is configured to detect an amount of light. At least one laser heater is disposed proximate the laser. A controller is configured to control current supplied to the at least one heater based on the detected amount of light.

Abstract: A system for displaying virtual content to a user includes at least one light source to multiplex a plurality of light beams to display a respective plurality of light patterns associated with one or more frames of image data. The system also includes a plurality of waveguides to receive the plurality of light beams and to direct the plurality of light beams toward an exit pupil, wherein the plurality of waveguides are stacked along an optical axis of the user. The system further includes at least one optical element to modify a focus of a light beam of the plurality of light beams directed by the plurality of waveguides.

Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) disk drive read/write head has the write head located adjacent the trailing surface of the gas-bearing slider with the read head located adjacent the write head, which is the reversed location from conventional read/write heads. This results in reduced write head protrusion during writing which allows for a reduced minimum fly-height for the slider. For a HAMR read/write head that uses a heater to protrude the read head closer to the disk during reading, the reversed location allows for better heater efficiency and thus reduced heater power.

Abstract: An optical coupling apparatus and method are described. An embodiment of an optical coupling apparatus may include a first optical chip, a second optical chip, and an optical writing waveguide block. In the apparatus, the first optical chip is coupled to the optical writing waveguide block in a first coupling manner, and the second optical chip is coupled to the optical writing waveguide block in a second coupling manner. Furthermore, in the apparatus, the first optical chip is optically interconnected to the second optical chip by using the optical writing waveguide block. Compatibility between a plurality of coupling manners is therefore enabled by using the technical solutions described herein.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a slider configured for heat-assisted magnetic recording. The slider comprises an input coupler configured to receive light excited by a light source and a waveguide. The waveguide comprises a waveguide core tapering along a light propagation direction from a first cross-sectional width to a second cross-sectional width. The second cross sectional width is smaller than the first cross sectional width. The waveguide core comprises a trench at an output end. The waveguide comprises at least one cladding layer surrounding the waveguide core. The waveguide is configured to provide a surface plasmon-enhanced near-field radiation pattern proximate the output end in response to the received light.

Abstract: A TAMR (thermally assisted magnetic recording) write head uses a gap-based NFT (near-field transducer) to create plasmon near field energy. In one embodiment the NFT is a double ridge aperture structure that simultaneously delivers low transition curvature and better cross-track thermal gradients than previous designs. In another embodiment a NFT comprises a top and bottom ridge not confined to an aperture structure, made of thermo-mechanically stable materials and a parabolic shaped metal layer disposed adjacent to a dielectric waveguide core to couple optical energy to surface plasmon modes.

Abstract: A TAMR (thermally assisted magnetic recording) write head uses weakly plasmonic materials to create plasmon near field energy. The replacement of highly plasmonic materials like Au with weakly plasmonic materials like Rh avoids the thermal deformations of softer metals like Au. To maintain the performance of the head, it includes pre-focusing structures that concentrate plasmon energy by the creation of surface plasmon polaritons which are converted to more narrowly confined plasmons by excitation by a tapered waveguide. A waveguide blocker at the distal end of the waveguide enhances the formation of surface plasmon polaritons at the interface between the blocker and the distal end of the waveguide. A pair of symmetrically disposed optical side shields are formed to either side of the pole tip and a weakly plasmonic optical field enhancer further strengthens the optical field.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are sliders with particle-trapping structures for trapping particles that could otherwise adversely affect the performance of a data storage device, and data storage devices comprising such sliders. A slider includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, a leading-edge structure located between the leading edge and the trailing edge, a vertical structure located between the leading-edge structure and the trailing edge, and a particle-trapping structure adjacent to the base of the vertical structure. The vertical structure has a leading-edge-facing surface, a side-edge-facing surface, and a base at a first level of an air-bearing surface (ABS) of the slider. The particle-trapping structure has a first portion adjacent to the leading-edge-facing surface and a second portion adjacent to the side-edge-facing surface. The particle-trapping structure comprises at least one cavity extending below the first level when the ABS is oriented upward.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for analyzing single molecule and performing nucleic acid sequencing. An integrated device includes multiple pixels with sample wells configured to receive a sample, which, when excited, emits radiation; at least one element for directing the emission radiation in a particular direction; and a light path along which the emission radiation travels from the sample well toward a sensor. The apparatus also includes an instrument that interfaces with the integrated device. Each sensor may detect emission radiation from a sample in a respective sample well. The instrument includes an excitation light source for exciting the sample in each sample well.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a slider having an air-bearing surface (ABS), a write pole at or near the ABS, and a reader at or near the ABS and connected to a pair of reader bond pads of the slider. A near-field transducer (NFT) is formed on the slider at or near the ABS, and an optical waveguide is formed in the slider and configured to receive light from a laser source. A sensor is situated proximal of the write pole at a location within the slider that receives at least some of the light communicated along the waveguide. The sensor may be electrically coupled to the reader bond pads in parallel with the reader, and configured to generate a signal indicative of output optical power of the laser source.

Abstract: A recording head has a near-field transducer proximate a media facing surface of the read/write head. A waveguide overlaps and delivers light to the near-field transducer. A subwavelength focusing mirror is at an end of the waveguide proximate the media-facing surface. The subwavelength focusing mirror recycles a residual transverse field for excitation of the near-field transducer.

Abstract: Implementations disclosed herein provide a method of reducing the topography at the alignment and overlay marks area during the writer pole photolithography process in order to reduce the wafer scale variation and reduce the writer pole photolithography process rework rate. In one implementation, an intermediate stage of a wafer for writer pole formation is generated by removing a part of at least one metallic writer pole layer on top of an intermediate stage writer pole wafer to form a recovery trench, depositing an optically transparent material on top of the wafer, wherein the thickness of the optically transparent material is higher than a target recovery trench topography, forming a photoresist pattern on top of the optically transparent material over the recovery trench, etching the optically transparent material, and removing the photoresist pattern and at least part of the remaining optically transparent material.

Abstract: A first waveguide core is configured to receive light via an input surface. The first waveguide core extends away from the input surface in a light propagation direction and terminates at a coupling region. A second waveguide core has a first end at the coupling region and a second end at a media-facing surface that is opposed to the input surface. The first end is separated from the termination of the first waveguide core by a gap in the coupling region. The coupling region includes an overlap between the first and second waveguide cores and is configured to promote evanescent coupling between the first and second waveguide cores.

Abstract: A device and system for coupling light into and out of a photonic integrated circuit. The forked grating coupler device applies a forked grating structure to the design of the diffracting lines in an integrated optics grating coupler to make the device compatible with vortex light beams to or from free space, bulk optics, or special optical fiber that can propagate vortex modes. These diffracting lines, which can be grooves, or ridges, or a photonic metamaterial discontinuity arranged in a continuous or intermittent curve, follow the forked diffraction pattern lobes over a two-dimensional surface. The resulting device can therefore absorb or radiate a vortex beam mode at near-normal incidence to a PIC and transform that vortex mode to a transverse electric (TE) or transverse magnetic (TM) waveguide mode traveling along a slab or strip optical waveguide parallel to the surface of the IC.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a slider having an air bearing surface (ABS) and a near-field transducer (NFT) at or near the ABS. An optical waveguide is configured to couple light from a laser source to the NFT. A resistive sensor comprises an ABS section situated at or proximate the ABS and a distal section extending away from the ABS to a location at least lateral of or behind the NFT. The resistive sensor is configured to detect changes in output optical power of the laser source and contact between the slider and a magnetic recording medium.

Abstract: A heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) write apparatus has a media-facing surface (MFS) and is coupled with a laser that provides energy. The HAMR write apparatus includes a waveguide, a near-field transducer (NFT), a pole and coil(s) for energizing the pole. The waveguide is optically coupled with the laser and directs a first portion of the energy toward the MFS. The NFT is optically coupled with the waveguide. The pole writes to a region of the media and includes a pole tip. A first portion of the pole tip is at the MFS and is separated from the NFT in a down track direction. A second portion of the pole tip is recessed from the MFS and between the first portion and the NFT.

Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) head includes a reader, a writer, a writer heater, a laser, and a near-field transducer (NFT). A processor is coupled to the head and configured to perform laser writeability calibration of the head. The processor is also configured to concurrently while performing the laser writeability calibration, correct for laser induced writer protrusion (LIWP) at a writer/NFT region of the head using writer clearance calculations based on reader clearance measurements.

Abstract: Devices that include a near field transducer (NFT), the NFT having at least one external surface; and at least one adhesion layer positioned on at least a portion of the at least one external surface, the adhesion layer including oxides of yttrium, oxides of scandium, oxides of lanthanoids, oxides of actionoids, oxides of zinc, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A thermal assisted magnetic recording head has a magnetic head slider and a light source unit that is fixed to the magnetic head slider. A first surface of the light source unit and a second surface of the magnetic head slider face each other via a gap. The light source unit includes a light source that emits laser light from an emission part that is positioned on the first surface and a photodetector that detects the laser light. The magnetic head slider includes a waveguide through which the laser light that is incident on an incident part positioned on the second surface propagates, near-field light generation means for generating near-field light on an air bearing surface, the near-field light being generated from the laser light that propagates through the waveguide, and a recording magnetic pole that is provided adjacent to the near-field light generation means and that has an end part positioned on the air bearing surface.

Abstract: A recording head includes a layer of plasmonic metal deposited on a surface of the recording head. One or more non-self-supporting layers of crystalline material are attached to the plasmonic metal, the one or more layers of crystalline materials configured to form an active region of a laser. A waveguide is configured to receive plasmons from the laser and direct the plasmons to a recording medium.

Abstract: A device that includes a near field transducer (NFT); at least one cladding layer adjacent the NFT; and a discontinuous metal layer positioned between the NFT and the at least one cladding layer.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a light source, a slider including a sensor having a resistance or voltage that varies with the temperature of the sensor, the sensor being mounted to be heated by a portion of light emitted by the light source, and a controller controlling the light source power in response to the resistance or voltage of the sensor.

Abstract: A method of making a transducer head disclosed herein includes depositing a spacer layer on an NFT layer of the transducer head, forming an etch stop layer on a spacer layer of a transducer, depositing a cladding layer on the etch stop layer, and milling the cladding layer at a sloped angle such that the milling stops at the etch stop layer.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to energy-assisted magnetic recording (EAMR), an EAMR assembly, and methods for fabricating the same. In several embodiments, an EAMR head includes a sub-mount on a slider that has a waveguide configured to receive light from a light source attached to a surface of the sub-mount. The waveguide receives the light at a top surface of the slider and routes the light to be near an air bearing surface (ABS) of the slider where energy of the light can be used to heat up a spot on a recording media disk that is proximate the ABS. The waveguide also routes a portion of the light back to the top surface of the slider where the light exits the waveguide and is detected by a light detector located along the surface of the sub-mount.

Abstract: A method is provided for characterizing the peg region of a near-field transducer incorporated into a write head of a HAMR magnetic recorder. The method includes providing excitation radiation to one or more near-field transducers. The near-field transducers include an enlarged disk region and a peg region at least partially in contact with the enlarged disk region. The method further includes filtering output radiation from the near-field transducers by passing a portion of photoluminescent radiation emitted by the near-field transducers in response to the excitation radiation and substantially blocking the excitation radiation transmitted by the near-field transducers. The method also includes detecting the portion of photoluminescent radiation and characterizing the peg region of at least one of the plurality of near-field transducers.

Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) write apparatus includes a laser and has an air-bearing surface (ABS) that resides in proximity to a media during use. The HAMR write apparatus includes a write pole that writes to the media, coil(s) for energizing the write pole and a waveguide optically coupled with the laser. The waveguide includes an entrance distal from the ABS and a bottom proximate to the ABS. The waveguide also includes a mode converter, a mode stripper optically coupled with the mode converter and an inverse tapered section optically coupled with the mode stripper. The mode converter has sides converging from a first width proximate to the entrance to a second width distal from the entrance and less than the first width. The mode stripper is between the inverse tapered section and the mode converter. The inverse tapered section has an entrance and an exit wider than the entrance.

Abstract: A thermally-assisted magnetic recording head includes a waveguide, a first plasmon generator, and a second plasmon generator. The waveguide includes a core and a cladding. The first plasmon generator is located on the leading side of the core. The second plasmon generator is located on the trailing side of the core. The cladding includes a first interposition section and a second interposition section, the first interposition section being interposed between the core and the first plasmon generator, the second interposition section being interposed between the core and the second plasmon generator.

Abstract: An optical information reproduction apparatus using holography can appropriately correct an angle and a wavelength of a reference beam in a direction perpendicular to multiplexing while data is reproduced. In the optical information reproduction apparatus which reproduces information from an optical information recording medium by using holography, an angular error signal in the direction perpendicular to multiplexing of the reference beam is generated by using a signal detected by a light detecting unit. A perpendicular angle adjustment element adjusts an angle of the reference beam in the direction perpendicular to multiplexing, based on the angular error signal. A wavelength error signal is generated from a signal detected by the light detecting unit, and a wavelength is adjusted based on the wavelength error signal.

Abstract: An attachable optical component is aligned with a base optical component. The attachable optical component has a mounting surface interfacing with the base optical component and an exposed surface opposed to the mounting surface. Laser light is directed to the exposed surface of the attachable optical component for delivery to the mounting surface. The attachable optical component guides and homogenizes the laser light delivered to the mounting surface and uniformly heats a bonding feature between the mounting surface and the base optical component. The directing and subsequent removing of the laser light bonds the attachable optical component to the base optical component via the bonding feature.

Abstract: Waveguides that include a top cladding layer made of a material having an index of refraction n4; a core bilayer structure, the core bilayer structure including a lower index core layer having an index of refraction n3; and a higher index core layer having an index of refraction n1, wherein the higher index core layer includes TiO2 and one or more than one of Nb2O5, CeO2, Ta2O5, ZrO2, HfO2, Y2O3, Sc2O3, MgO, Al2O3 and SiO2, wherein the lower index core layer is adjacent the higher index core layer; a bottom cladding layer made of a material having an index of refraction n2, wherein the waveguide is configured with the higher index core layer of the core bilayer structure adjacent the top cladding layer and the lower index core layer of the core bilayer structure adjacent the bottom cladding layer, and wherein n4 is less than n3 and n1, and n2 is less than n3 and n1.

Abstract: While a plurality of drive currents for flying height setting with current values smaller than a tentative optimum drive current are supplied to a light source, respectively, heater power is supplied to a heater part, and touch down of a thermally-assisted magnetic recording head is detected. Tentative optimum heater power is determined based on a correlation between the heater power when the touch down is detected and each drive current for flying height setting. The tentative optimum drive current is supplied to the light source part; the tentative optimum heater power is supplied to the heater part; a reference signal is recorded in a magnetic recording medium; and flying height of the thermally-assisted magnetic recording head is set by determining whether or not the reference signal is recorded with the desired signal intensity.

Abstract: A thermally-assisted magnetic recording head includes a main pole and a heat sink. The heat sink includes two first portions and two second portions. The two first portions are located on opposite sides of the main pole in the track width direction and are each spaced from the main pole. The two second portions are located between the main pole and the two first portions. The main pole and the two first portions are each formed of a magnetic metal. The two second portions are formed of a nonmagnetic metal.

Abstract: A plasmon generator includes a first portion and a second portion. A core of a waveguide includes a main body portion and a protruding portion. The main body portion has a first surface and a second surface parallel to each other. The protruding portion lies on the first surface. A cladding of the waveguide includes a receiving-portion-forming layer lying on the first surface. At least part of the first portion of the plasmon generator is received in a receiving portion defined by the protruding portion and the receiving-portion-forming layer.

Abstract: An NFT is used in a HAMR magnetic write head. The NFT functions as a resonant circuit when in operation. The resonant circuit, which comprises the NFT, is a split-ring resonator (SRR) that has a capacitive portion and an inductive portion. The inductance and the capacitance results in a very well focused ultra-small spot-size concentrated on the magnetic media. The focus occurs at the capacitive area of the NFT with minimal to no impact upon the write pole of the HAMR magnetic head.

Abstract: A recording head of a disk device includes a main magnetic pole, a write shield which faces the main magnetic pole with a write gap interposed therebetween, a coil configured to generate a magnetic field in the main magnetic pole, and a spin torque oscillator which is arranged in the write gap. The spin torque oscillator includes an intermediate layer formed on the main magnetic pole, a field generation layer formed on the intermediate layer, a spin injection layer, and an interface magnetic layer. The field generation layer and the spin injection layer are arranged in parallel to each other in the direction which intersects with the gap length direction of the write gap, and the spin injection layer is electrically connected with the write shield.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a near-field transducer at or near an air bearing surface of the apparatus. A write pole is disposed at or near the air bearing surface and proximate the near-field transducer, respectively. A thermal sensor is disposed at the air bearing surface and within a protrusion region of the air bearing surface defined relative to at least one of the near-field transducer and the write pole. The thermal sensor is configured to produce a signal indicative of a temperature at the protrusion region.

Abstract: Systems and methods for suppressing the background energy of a waveguide in an EAMR system are provided. One such system includes a near field transducer having a disk section and a pin section extending from the disk section to an air bearing surface of a slider, a waveguide having a core and a cladding, where the waveguide is configured to couple light energy to the near field transducer, where the cladding is configured to substantially surround the core, and a recess portion positioned between the core and the air bearing surface.

Abstract: A thermally assisted magnetic head includes a main magnetic pole layer, a near-field light generating layer having a generating end part generating near-field light arranged within a medium-opposing surface, and an optical waveguide guiding light to the near-field light generating layer. The near-field light generating layer has a laminated structure in which a first thin-film metal layer formed in a thin film form along a direction intersecting the medium-opposing surface and a second thin-film metal layer formed in a thin film form and formed using a second metal larger in hardness than a first metal forming the first thin-film metal layer are alternately laminated. Further, in the second thin-film metal layer, a defect part is formed, the defect part is a part smaller in thickness than another part or is a hole part, and a flat layer part other than the defect part surrounds the defect part.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a thermally-assisted magnetic recording head includes the steps of: forming a preliminary head section that has a surface to be polished and includes a magnetic pole, a waveguide, and a preliminary plasmon generator; causing a volumetric expansion of the preliminary plasmon generator with heat by introducing light into the core of the waveguide of the preliminary head section; and polishing the surface to be polished of the preliminary head section into a medium facing surface. The preliminary plasmon generator has an end face located in the surface to be polished. In the step of polishing the surface to be polished, the surface to be polished is subjected to polishing with the preliminary plasmon generator expanded in volume, whereby the end face of the preliminary plasmon generator is polished into the front end face, and the preliminary plasmon generator thereby becomes the plasmon generator.