Abstract: A light source unit includes a light source and a photodetector. The light source has an emission part for emitting light. The photodetector has a light receiving surface for receiving the light emitted from the emission part, and detects the light. The light source unit further includes a grating made of metal and disposed to extend along the light receiving surface. The grating includes a plurality of line-shaped portions that each extend in a direction intersecting the direction of travel of the light and that are located at positions different from each other along the direction of travel of the light.

Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic write head includes a magnetic pole having an end surface exposed at an air bearing surface, a waveguide extending toward the air bearing surface to propagate light, and a plasmon generator provided between the magnetic pole and the waveguide, and generating near-field light from the air bearing surface, based on the light propagated through the waveguide. The plasmon generator has an end portion exposed at the air bearing surface or located in close proximity to the air bearing surface, the end portion having a minimum thickness in a region close to the waveguide.

Abstract: The thermally-assisted magnetic recording head includes: a magnetic pole; a waveguide allowing a transverse-electric (TE) wave oscillating in a cross-track direction to propagate toward an air bearing surface; and a plasmon generator having a tip portion near the air bearing surface, the tip portion being provided to overlap, in a down-track direction, with both the magnetic pole and the waveguide, and having a quadrangular cross-section substantially parallel to the air bearing surface.

Abstract: Improved spatial resolution during TAMR has been achieved by shaping the write pole to have a lower surface that slopes away from the surface of the recording medium, starting at, or near, the pole's leading edge. The approach may be used for simple or compound (stitched) poles.

Abstract: A data storage device comprises: a light waveguide element; a protective element; and a plurality of data storage elements interposed between the light waveguide element and the protective element. The light waveguide element irradiates light at a critical angle or more on the data storage elements. Each of the data storage elements comprises a transparent ferromagnetic element, which has been magnetized, disposed therein, and the magnetized transparent ferromagnetic element is movable by a magnetic field. When the magnetized transparent ferromagnetic element is moved close to the light waveguide element to allow light from the light guiding element to pass the data storage element, a first data is recorded, and when the magnetized transparent ferromagnetic element is moved away from the light waveguide element to prohibit light from the light guiding element to pass the data storage element, a second data is recorded.

Abstract: In a thermally assisted recording head using a conductive scatterer as an optical near-field transducer, a propagation loss in a waveguide for guiding light to the scatterer is reduced. An optical near-field is generated by using the conductive scatterer having a width that gradually becomes smaller toward a vertex at which the optical near-field is generated. At the same time, a height of the conductive scatterer for generating the optical near-field is made substantially equal to a height of a main pole or longer than the height of the main pole.

Abstract: A thermally-assisted magnetic recording head that includes an air bearing surface facing a recording medium and that performs a magnetic recording while heating the recording medium includes a waveguide configured with a core through which light propagates and a cladding that surrounds a periphery of the core and that includes at least a portion extending to the air bearing surface; and a heat radiation layer that is embedded in the cladding that surrounds the periphery of the core on the air bearing surface, and that is made of a material having a higher thermal conductivity coefficient than the cladding.

Abstract: A thermally-assisted magnetic recording head that includes a pole that generates a writing magnetic field, a waveguide through which light propagates, a plasmon generator that surface-evanescent-couples with the light propagating through the waveguide, wherein the plasmon generator includes a portion where a cross-sectional area gradually decreases as going toward a depth side from an air bearing surface when being observed from a cross section parallel to the air bearing surface. The volume of the plasmon generator can be decreased and an exposed area of a front surface on the air bearing surface can be increased. When a thermal expansion from the temperature increase occurs in the plasmon generator, a rate that the plasmon generator projects from the air bearing surface is suppressed to extremely low levels. Accordingly, a chronological degradation of output can be suppressed and thermally-assisted recording having a high and long-term reliability is achieved.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a waveguide having a core layer and first and second cladding layers on opposite sides of the core layer, wherein the cladding layers comprise a binary oxide composition. In another example, the cladding layers include a ternary or quaternary combination of oxides and/or oxynitrides. In another example, the cladding layers include a silicon oxynitride.

Abstract: A thermally assisted recording magnetic head is provided in which a magnetic recording medium can be irradiated with light having a spot size reduced in the submicron order with high total optical propagation efficiency. In a magnetic head, a spot size converter that propagates the light from an optical source in the magnetic head is provided adjacent to a main pole. The spot size converter includes a cover layer having a refractive index lower than that of a clad material and formed in contact with the optical waveguide core, and is formed in a shape composed of a substantially rectangular shape in a light traveling direction and a tapered shape where the width is increased toward the bottom surface of the magnetic head. The optical waveguide core having the cover layer formed is vertically interposed between multi-mode-thin-film-like cores that can excite a first or higher-order optical waveguide mode.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a plasmon generator includes the steps of forming an accommodation part and forming the plasmon generator to be accommodated in the accommodation part. The step of forming the accommodation part includes the steps of: forming a dielectric layer having an upper surface; etching the dielectric layer by using an etching mask and thereby forming a groove in the dielectric layer; and forming a dielectric film in the groove. The groove has first and second sidewalls and a bottom. Each of the first and second sidewalls forms an angle in the range of 0° to 15° relative to the direction perpendicular to the upper surface of the dielectric layer. The dielectric film includes a first portion interposed between the first sidewall and the first side surface, and a second portion interposed between the second sidewall and the second side surface.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a thermally-assisted magnetic recording head includes: providing a light source unit including a laser diode; providing a slider having a thermally-assisted magnetic recording head section thereon, the thermally-assisted magnetic recording head section including a magnetic pole, an optical waveguide, and a plasmon generator, the magnetic pole and the optical waveguide both extending toward an air bearing surface, the plasmon generator being located between the magnetic pole and the optical waveguide; driving the laser diode to allow a light beam to be emitted therefrom, the light beam including both a TE polarization component and a TM polarization component; performing an alignment between the light source unit and the thermally-assisted magnetic recording head section, based on a light intensity distribution of the TE polarization component in the light beam which has been emitted from the laser diode and then passed through the optical waveguide; and bonding the light source unit

Abstract: A thermally-assisted magnetic recording head of the present invention includes waveguide 2 that includes core 3 through which light from a laser beam source propagates and cladding 4 that surrounds the periphery of the core 3, magnetic pole 10 that generates magnetic flux toward magnetic recording medium 25, plasmon generator 16 that faces a part of the core 3 and extends to the ABS, that couples to propagation light that propagates through the core 3 in a surface plasmon mode, and that generates surface plasmon, near-field light generating part 16a that is an end part of the plasmon generator on the ABS side and that generates near-field light from the surface plasmon, heat generation element 20 that thermally expands the thermally-assisted magnetic recording head, and dielectric body 40 that covers at least a part of the plasmon generator positioned on the ABS.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a planar waveguide having a core layer and a cladding layer adjacent to the core layer, the waveguide being shaped to direct light to a focal point; a magnetic pole adjacent to the cladding layer; and a near-field transducer positioned adjacent to the focal point, wherein the near-field transducer includes an enlarged portion and a peg having a first end positioned adjacent to an end of the waveguide and a second end positioned adjacent to a side of the enlarged portion. A data storage device that includes the apparatus is also provided.

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: A magnetic recording element that faces a recording medium and that executes a magnetic recording while the recording medium is heated, the element including a waveguide that is configured with a core and a cladding, the core, through which laser light propagates, including an enlarged part, which is enlarged at an air bearing surface facing the recording medium; and the cladding surrounding a periphery of the core.

Abstract: A light source and a waveguide are mounted on a recording head slider. Light rays are emitted from the light source into the waveguide. The waveguide may include two core layers for light ray transmission. The first core layer enhances light coupling efficiency from the light source to the second core layer. The second core layer transforms a profile of the light. The waveguide may include a tapered portion with a narrow opening near the light source and a wider opening near the tapered portion exit. The light rays passing through the waveguide may be directed toward a collimating mirror. The collimating mirror makes the light rays parallel or nearly parallel and re-directs the light rays to a focusing mirror. The focusing mirror focuses the collimated light rays to a spot on a magnetic media disc.

Abstract: A laser, such as a horizontal cavity surface emitting laser, with internal polarization rotation may be used in thermally assisted recording in hard disk drives. The desired polarization of the laser may be accomplished with two beam reflections off of facets within the laser. The facets may be formed in a single ion beam etching step. The laser may be used on a thermally assisted recording head to produce a polarized beam that is aligned with a track direction of the disk.

Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic write head includes: a magnetic pole having an end surface exposed to an air bearing surface; a waveguide extending toward the air bearing surface to propagate light; a plasmon generator provided between the magnetic pole and the waveguide and generating near-field light from the air bearing surface, based on the light propagated through the waveguide; and a clad provided to surround both the waveguide and the plasmon generator collectively, the clad having a refractive index lower than that of the waveguide, and exhibiting a thermal conductivity higher than that of the waveguide. The clad may be provided to collectively surround the magnetic pole, as well.

Abstract: The magnetic read write head has a read head and a write head, each having an end face exposed on an air bearing surface. The write head performs heat assist magnetic recording, and is provided with: a magnetic pole having an end face exposed on the air bearing surface; a waveguide extending toward the air bearing surface to propagate light; and a plasmon generator provided between the magnetic pole and the waveguide, and generating near-field light based on the light propagated through the waveguide to emit the generated near-field light from the air bearing surface. The waveguide is surrounded by a clad layer, and the magnetic pole is in contact with a heat sink having a heat conductivity higher than that of the clad layer. Although the near-field light causes temperature rise, heat energy from the plasmon generator to the magnetic pole is released through the heat sink.

Abstract: An optical waveguide of the present invention is an optical waveguide in order to directly introduce light beams emitted from a light emitting element. In a core that is a waveguide through which light propagates, a concave part is formed that is a depression in a light incident end surface that is one side where light enters. Therefore, an optical waveguide is realized that can obtain a large optical coupling efficiency is possible by the operation of phase alignment in the concave part.

Abstract: A thermally-assisted magnetic recording head enables even steeper magnetization reversal between adjacent magnetic domains of a magnetic recording medium and satisfies the demand for high SN ratio and high recording density. The thermally-assisted magnetic recording head includes a pole that generates a writing magnetic field from an end surface that forms a part of an air bearing surface that opposes a magnetic recording medium, a waveguide through which light for exciting surface plasmon propagates, and a plasmon generator that couples to the light in a surface plasmon mode. The plasmon generator has a plane part and a projection part, the pole has a projection part opposing surface that opposes the projection part, and the distance between the projection part opposing surface and the projection part is 10-40 nm.

Abstract: The thermally-assisted magnetic recording head includes: a magnetic pole; a waveguide propagating light in a first direction, the first direction intersecting with an air bearing surface; a plasmon generator having a base and a projection, the base having a surface, and the projection having a top, standing partially on the surface of the base and extending in the first direction. The plasmon generator has a first portion and a second portion, and the first portion and the second portion are provided in this order from the air bearing surface in a direction away from the air bearing surface. Herein, the top of the projection and the surface of the base in the first portion define a first step, and the top of the projection and the surface of the base in the second portion define a second step. The first step is larger than the second step.

Abstract: A near field transducer (NFT) for use in an energy assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) head and configured to direct energy to a recording media is disclosed. The NFT comprises a disk section; and a pin section extending towards an air bearing surface (ABS) from the disk section. The pin section has a proximal end adjoining the disk section and a distal end opposite to the proximal end and facing the ABS, wherein at least the distal end of the pin section has a non- rectangular cross section in a plane parallel to the ABS.

Abstract: A magnetic writer comprises a write pole and a near field transducer. The write pole has a leading edge, a trailing edge and a notch at the leading edge of the write pole. The near field transducer produces near field radiation. The near field transducer positioned in front of or at least partially within the notch.

Abstract: Disclosed is a deflection optical element, which makes it possible to deflect an incident light so as to couple the incident light to an optical element disposed in the later stage without deteriorating the optical efficiency. The deflection optical element, which deflects an incident light coming along a first optical axis at a deflection surface and emits an emission light propagating along a second optical axis so as to couple the emission light to either a diffraction grating or a refracting optical system, comprises at least one diffracting surface and at least one reflecting surface, wherein the angle ?n, an angle ?t derived as a total diffraction angle caused by the at least one diffracting surface, and an angle ?a, which is formed at a second intersection of the first optical axis and the second optical axis, fulfill a conditional relationship of: 0??n<?a<?t.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a head gimbal assembly (HGA) for an energy assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) disk drive including media is described. The HGA includes a slider, a laser assembly, and a flexure. The slider has a front side, a back side, and at least one EAMR transducer residing in proximity to the front side. The front side corresponds to an air-bearing surface (ABS) that resides in proximity to the media during use. The laser assembly includes a laser for providing energy to the EAMR transducer and is mounted on the back side of the slider. The flexure has at least one laser lead and a through-hole therein. The through-hole is configured to accommodate the laser assembly. A portion of the at least one laser lead extends over the through-hole and electrically connects the at least one laser lead with the laser.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a transducer assembly including a waveguide having a core layer and a cladding layer adjacent to the core layer, and a grating structured to couple electromagnetic radiation into the waveguide; and a light source mounted on the cladding to direct light onto the grating at an acute angle with respect to a plane containing the grating.

Abstract: An apparatus having a first pole with a first side and a second side opposite from the first side, a second pole positioned on the first side of the first pole, and a waveguide positioned on the second side of the first pole wherein the waveguide has an end adjacent to an air bearing surface. The first pole includes a first portion spaced from the waveguide and a second portion extending from the first portion to the air bearing surface, with the second portion being structured such that an end of the second portion is closer to the waveguide than the first portion.

Abstract: A near-field light generating device (10) which converts incident light into near-field light, includes: a metallic member (11) made of a metallic material; and a dielectric member (12) made of a dielectric material, the metallic member (11) having a first interface (16) and a second interface (18) that sandwich the dielectric member (12), the first interface (16) and the second interface (18) having flections (P16 and P18), respectively, an inner-interface distance, which is a distance between the first interface (16) and the second interface (18), being minimum at location of the flections (P16 and P18), and a rate of change of the inner-interface distance between the first interface (16) and the second interface (18) being asymmetrical with respect to the flections (P16 and P18). With the arrangement, it is possible to provide a minute near-field light generating device which can be easily fabricated and which can obtain high-intensity near-field light whose temporal change in intensity is small.

Abstract: A light source device configured as a master oscillator power amplifier includes a mode locked laser unit having an external resonator and a semiconductor optical amplifier that amplifies and modulates laser light emitted from the mode locked laser unit. The width in a lateral direction of a waveguide on an incident side of the semiconductor optical amplifier is set so that a horizontal lateral mode of the waveguide on the incident side of the semiconductor optical amplifier becomes multiple modes, and a magnification conversion unit that converts a magnification of incident light from the mode locked laser unit to the semiconductor optical amplifier is disposed so that a basic mode is selectively excited in optical coupling on the incident side of the semiconductor optical amplifier.

Abstract: Provided is a thermally-assisted magnetic recording head with improved light density of near-field light (NF-light) with which a medium is irradiated. The head comprises: a magnetic pole; a waveguide for propagating light for exciting surface plasmon; a surface plasmon generator provided between the magnetic pole and the waveguide, coupled with the light in a surface plasmon mode, and emitting NF-light; and a clad portion provided at least between the waveguide and the surface plasmon generator and comprising a transition region in which a refractive index decreases along a direction from the waveguide toward the magnetic pole. The provision of the clad portion including the transition region enables improvement of the light density of NF-light due to the convergence of surface plasmon excited in the surface plasmon generator to predetermined locations, while avoiding the problem of temperature rise due to reduction of the volume of surface plasmon generator.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a near-field optical head. A first projection shaped in a quadrangular pyramid is formed on a surface of a substrate for providing a near-field optical element of the near-field optical head. A second projection shaped in a frustum of quadrangular pyramid is formed on the surface of the substrate for providing an air bearing surface of the near-field optical head. A metal film is formed on at least one surface of the first projection and the metal film is connected with a resistance meter through a conduction wiring for detecting an electrical resistance of the metal film. The first and second projections and the metal film are polished while the resistance meter detects an electrical resistance of the metal film and until the detected electrical resistance reaches a predetermined value such that a top surface of the first projection has a specified size and becomes flush with a surface of the second projection providing the air bearing surface.

Abstract: A thermally-assisted magnetic recording head includes: a medium facing surface; a magnetic pole; a waveguide including a core and a cladding; a plasmon generator; and a protruding member. The protruding member is disposed between the medium facing surface and a front end face of the core facing toward the medium facing surface. The protruding member has a first end face located in the medium facing surface, and a second end face facing toward the front end face of the core and receiving light having propagated through the core and passed through the front end face. The protruding member is formed of a metal different from both a material forming the magnetic pole and a material forming the plasmon generator. The protruding member is heated and expanded by the light received at the second end face, so that the first end face gets protruded toward a magnetic recording medium.

Abstract: A method and system provide an EAMR transducer having an air-bearing surface (ABS) that resides near a media during use. The EAMR transducer includes a write pole, coil(s), a near field transducer (NFT), a waveguide, and a reflective grating. The write pole writes to a region of the media. The coil(s) energize the write pole. The NFT is proximate to the ABS and focuses the energy onto the media. The waveguide is configured to direct the energy from the laser toward the NFT at an incident angle with respect to the ABS. A first portion of the energy reflects off of the ABS at a reflected angle. The reflective grating receives the first portion of the energy at the reflected angle from the ABS and reflects a second portion of the energy toward the ABS. The NFT resides between at least part of the waveguide and the reflective grating.

Abstract: An energy assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) head for writing to a recording media is disclosed. The EAMR head includes a write pole for providing a magnetic field for writing to the recording media; and a near field transducer disposed adjacent to the write pole and comprising a disk section and a pin section extending towards an air bearing surface (ABS) from the disk section. At least a portion of the pin section is electrically isolated from the write pole by an insulator material.

Abstract: A near-field optical head has a planar substrate having a first surface, a second surface disposed opposite to the first surface, and an inverted pyramidal hole extending through the first and second surfaces. The inverted pyramidal hole has at least one fine aperture formed at an apex thereof and disposed in the first surface and having at least one curved slant surface. An optical waveguide extends into the inverted pyramidal hole of the planar substrate for propagating light along an optical path. A mirror is disposed in the optical waveguide for bending in the direction of the fine aperture the optical path of the light propagated through the optical waveguide.

Abstract: An energy assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) transducer coupled with a laser is described. The EAMR transducer has an air-bearing surface (ABS) residing near a media during use. The laser provides energy. The transducer includes a waveguide, a near field transducer (NFT) proximate to the ABS, a write pole, a heat spreader, and at least one coil. The waveguide directs the energy from the laser toward the ABS. The NFT is optically coupled with the waveguide, focuses the energy onto the media, and includes a disk having an NFT width. The write pole writes to the media. The heat spreader is thermally coupled with the NFT. A first portion of the heat spreader is between the NFT and the pole, is between the ABS and a second portion of the heat spreader, and has a first width. The second portion has a second width greater than the first width.

Abstract: A thermally-assisted magnetic recording head that allows even steeper magnetization reversal between adjacent magnetic domains of a magnetic recording medium and that satisfies the demands of high SN ratio and high recording density is provided. A thermally-assisted magnetic recording head includes a pole that generates a writing magnetic field, a waveguide through which light for exciting surface plasmon propagates, and a plasmon generator that generates near-field light. The waveguide is arranged on a back side of the pole, the plasmon generator has a plane part and a projection part that is projected from the plane part to the waveguide side and that opposes the pole and the waveguide with a predetermined gap, and a projection part opposing surface that opposes the projection part in the pole is configured so as to be distant from the projection part as approaching toward the back side.

Abstract: An energy assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) transducer coupled with a laser is described. The EAMR transducer has an air-bearing surface (ABS) residing near a media during use. The EAMR transducer includes optical and writer modules. The optical module includes a waveguide and a near field transducer (NFT). The waveguide directs the energy from the laser toward the ABS. The NFT focuses the energy onto the media. The optical and writer modules are physically separate such that no portion of the waveguide is interleaved with a magnetic portion of the writer module. The writer module includes a write pole and coil(s). The write pole includes a pole-tip portion for providing a magnetic field to the media and a yoke. The pole-tip portion has an ABS-facing surface, a sloped surface, and a NFT-facing surface therebetween. The sloped surface is at least twenty-five and not more than sixty-five degrees from the NFT-facing surface.

Abstract: A thermally-assisted magnetic head that includes an air bearing surface facing a recording medium and that performs magnetic recording while heating the recording medium includes: a magnetic recording element including a pole of which one edge part is positioned on the air bearing surface and that generates magnetic flux traveling toward the magnetic recording medium; a waveguide configured with a core through which light propagates and a cladding, at least one part of which extends to the air bearing surface, surrounding the periphery of the core; a plasmon generator that faces a part of the core and that extends to the air bearing surface.

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: When a semiconductor laser is arranged outside a slider and a light is to be guided to the slider through a waveguide, the following problems will be solved: the stability of the flying slider is deteriorated due to a stress from the waveguide; and when an actuator is arranged near the flying slider, the motions of the slider are hindered by the waveguide. A waveguide for guiding a light to a light irradiating unit inside a slider, which floats over a medium and has the light irradiating unit for irradiating a light to the medium; and a waveguide for propagating a light from the light source to the waveguide inside the slider, are included. The two waveguides are not in contact with each other, and a relative portion between the two waveguides is movable.

Abstract: An optical recording head includes: a light source; a slider comprising a wave guide which irradiates light from the light source to a recording medium, wherein a grating coupler is formed on an end portion at an opposite side of the waveguide relative to the light source; and an optical element which comprises a diffraction grating and introduces the light from the light source to the grating coupler through the diffraction grating. The optical element deflects the light from the light source so that the light is incident into the grating coupler with a deflection angle larger than 90 degrees with respect to a direction in which the light proceeds when the light is incident into the optical element.

Abstract: A near-field light generator includes a waveguide, a plasmon generator, and a metal layer. The waveguide includes a core having an evanescent light generating surface. The plasmon generator includes a base part, and a protruding part that protrudes from the base part toward the evanescent light generating surface. The protruding part has: a front end face located at an end in a direction parallel to the evanescent light generating surface; a band-shaped flat surface facing toward the evanescent light generating surface; and two side surfaces connected to the flat surface. In at least a portion of the protruding part, the distance between the two side surfaces increases with increasing distance from the evanescent light generating surface. The flat surface includes a first portion contiguous with the front end face, and a second portion that is located farther from the front end face than is the first portion. The metal layer has an end face facing the first portion.

Abstract: An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a near field transducer comprising a conductive metal film; and an optical waveguide for illumination of the near field transducer, a light guiding core layer of the optical waveguide being spaced from the near field transducer by less than about 100 nanometers and greater than 0 nanometers, wherein a longitudinal axis of the optical waveguide is substantially perpendicular to an air bearing surface.

Abstract: A thermally-assisted magnetic recording head includes a main pole, a waveguide, and a plasmon generator. The main pole has a front end face including first and second ends that are opposite in a track width direction. An arbitrary cross section of the main pole that passes through an arbitrary point on the front end face and is perpendicular to a medium facing surface and to the track width direction has a length in a direction perpendicular to the medium facing surface. When the arbitrary point on the front end face is located at a center of the front end face in the track width direction, the length of the arbitrary cross section is smaller than that when the arbitrary point is located at the first end and that when the arbitrary point is located at the second end.

Abstract: An energy assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) transducer coupled with a laser is described. The EAMR transducer has an air-bearing surface (ABS) residing near a media during use. The laser provides energy. The transducer includes a waveguide, a near field transducer (NFT) proximate to the ABS, a write pole and at least one coil. The waveguide directs the energy from the laser toward the ABS. The NFT is optically coupled with the waveguide and focuses the energy onto a region of the media. The write pole writes to the region of the media. The write pole has a magnetic portion and a nonmagnetic liner. The magnetic portion has a plurality of sides and a pole thermal conductivity. The nonmagnetic liner is adjacent to at least the sides of the magnetic portion, and has a liner thermal conductivity greater than the pole thermal conductivity. The coil(s) are for energizing the write pole.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a thermally-assisted magnetic recording head is provided, in which a light source unit including a light source and a slider including an optical system are bonded. A unit substrate is made of a material transmitting light having a predetermined wavelength, and a unit adhesion material layer that contains Sn, Sn alloy, Pb alloy or Bi alloy is formed on the light source unit and/or the slider. The manufacturing method includes: aligning the light source unit and the slider in such a way that a light from the light source can enter the optical system and the unit adhesion material layer is sandwiched therebetween; and causing a light including the predetermined wavelength to enter the unit substrate to melt the unit adhesion material layer. The unit adhesion material layer melted by the light including the predetermined wavelength can ensure high alignment accuracy as well as higher bonding strength and less change with time.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a thermally-assisted magnetic recording head is provided, in which a light source unit including a light source and a slider including an optical system are bonded. A unit substrate is made of a material transmitting light having a predetermined wavelength, and an adhesion material layer is formed on the light source unit and/or the slider. The manufacturing method includes: aligning the light source unit and the slider in such a way that a light from the light source can enter the optical system and the adhesion material layer is sandwiched therebetween; irradiating the adhesion material layer with a light including the predetermined wavelength through the unit substrate; and bonding them. The adhesion material layer melted by the light including the predetermined wavelength and transmitted through the unit substrate can ensure high alignment accuracy as well as higher bonding strength and less change with time.