Abstract: A method for providing a capping layer configured for an energy assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) head including at least one slider. The method comprises etching a substrate having a top surface using an etch to form a trench in the substrate, the trench having a first surface at a first angle from the top surface and a second surface having a second angle from the top surface. The method further comprises providing a protective coating exposing the second surface and covering the first surface, removing a portion of the substrate including the second surface to form a laser cavity within the substrate configured to fit a laser therein, and providing a reflective layer on the first surface to form a mirror, the cavity and mirror being configured for alignment of the laser to the laser cavity and to the mirror and for bonding the laser to the laser cavity.

Abstract: An EAMR disk drive includes a media, a laser, and a slider coupled with the laser. The laser for provides energy. The slider has an air-bearing surface, a laser input side, an EAMR transducer and an antireflective coating (ARC) layer occupying a portion of the laser input side. The ARC layer is configured to reduce back reflections of the energy. The EAMR transducer includes a write pole, a waveguide optically coupled with the laser and at least one coil. The waveguide has a waveguide input. A portion of the ARC layer resides between the laser and the waveguide input. A method aligns the laser to the ARC layer, and then aligns the laser to the waveguide input. The laser may then be coupled to the slider.

Abstract: A thermal assisted magnetic recording head includes a dielectric waveguide that is configured to propagate propagation light a metal waveguide that is provided facing the dielectric waveguide and that couples to the propagation light propagating through the dielectric waveguide in a surface plasmon mode, thereby generating and propagating surface plasmon, a near-field light generator that is exposed on an air bearing surface facing a magnetic recording medium either at an end part of the metal waveguide or at a position facing the end part of the metal waveguide, and that generates near-field light from the surface plasmon, a magnetic pole for magnetic recording that is exposed on the air bearing surface, and a temperature sensor that is arranged inside the dielectric waveguide.

Abstract: The thermally-assisted magnetic recording head includes: a laser light source having an emission surface, the emission surface allowing laser light to be emitted therefrom; a waveguide having a core and a cladding, the core allowing the laser light emitted from the laser light source to propagate therethrough, and the cladding surrounding the core; a magnetic pole; and a plasmon generator. Each of the core and the cladding has an end surface facing the emission surface, and the end surface of the cladding suppresses returning of the laser light to the laser light source.

Abstract: A magnetic disk device of an embodiment includes a magnetic disk, a magnetic head, a laser-beam-intensity control unit, a reproduced-signal detecting unit, and a magnetic-disk evaluating unit. The magnetic head reads a signal recorded in the magnetic disk, or performs magnetic recording while irradiating a laser beam onto the magnetic disk. The laser-beam-intensity control unit controls the intensity of the laser beam. The reproduced-signal detecting unit detects the signal read by the magnetic head. The magnetic-disk evaluating unit evaluates the signal read from the magnetic head, on the basis of a relation between a noise level detected from the signal read by the magnetic head, and the intensity of the laser beam.

Abstract: An information recording device in accordance with the present invention obtains drive information of a semiconductor laser which is included in a magnetic head by means of a drive information obtaining section and successively records the information in a drive information storing section. A magnetic head control section controls the magnetic head in accordance with a condition of the semiconductor laser on the basis of the drive information thus obtained by the drive information obtaining section.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a waveguide having an end adjacent to an air bearing surface, first and second poles positioned on opposite sides of the waveguide, and wherein 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: In a method and an apparatus for inspecting a thermally assisted magnetic recording head element, a specimen is mounted on a table movable in a plane of a scanning probe microscope device, evanescent light is generated from a portion of light emission of evanescent light of the specimen, scattered light of the evanescent light is detected by moving the table in the plane while a cantilever of the scanning probe microscope having a probe is vertically vibrated in the vicinity of a surface of the specimen, and an intensity distribution of the evanescent light emitted from the portion of light emission of evanescent light or a surface profile of the portion of light emission of evanescent light of the specimen is inspected using position information of generation of the evanescent light based on the detected scattered light.

Abstract: A method of writing binary data comprising (i) heating a magnetic microstructure from an initial temperature to an above-ambient temperature that is not less than a transition temperature for the magnetic microstructure, which causes a phase transition interlayer of the magnetic microstructure to transition from an antiferromagnetic phase to a ferromagnetic phase; and (ii) reversing an orientation of magnetization of a magnetic storage layer of the magnetic microstructure with a magnetic field while the phase transition interlayer is in the ferromagnetic phase.

Abstract: A TAMR (Thermal Assisted Magnetic Recording) writer has a narrow pole tip with a trailing edge magnetic shield. The narrow pole tipped write head uses the energy of laser generated edge plasmons, formed in a plasmon generating layer, to locally heat a PMR magnetic recording medium below its Curie temperature, Tc. When combined with the effects of the narrow tip, this local heating to a temperature below Tc is sufficient to create good transitions and narrow track widths in the magnetic medium. The write head is capable of writing effectively on state-of-the-art PMR recording media having Hk of 20 kOe or more.

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: Provided is a thermal-assisted-magnetic-recording head capable of irradiating a magnetic recording medium with light with a spot size reduced on the submicron order with high utilization efficiency. A spot size converter 13 for guiding light emitted from an optical source 4 into a magnetic head is provided at a position adjacent to a magnetic main pole 19 in the magnetic head. In the spot size converter 13, a cover layer 15 having a lower refractive index than those of a core 14 and a clad material 24 is formed between the core 14 and the clad 15 and has a shape composed of a shape substantially rectangular in a light traveling direction and a taper shape having a width increasing toward the bottom surface of the magnetic head.

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

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording device includes: a magnetic recording medium provided with data regions for data recording; a light output module which outputs an optical signal to be applied to a recording position where recording data is recorded of the data regions; a write head which records the recoding data at the recording position magnetically; a light quantity setting module which sets a light quantity value of the optical signal output from the light output module; a heat-assisted recording controller which performs a control so that the recording data is recorded by the write head at the recording position which is heat-assisted by applying an optical signal with the set light quantity value; and a controller which adjusts the light quantity value of the optical signal set by the light quantity setting module using the recording position being a part of the data regions.

Abstract: Provided is a surface plasmon resonating optical system emitting near-field light (NF-light) with a higher light density. The system comprises: a waveguide through which a light for exciting surface plasmon propagates; a plasmon generator that couples with the light in a surface plasmon mode and emits NF-light from its NF-light generating end surface; and a resonator mirror that reflects the excited surface plasmon, provided on the side of the plasmon generator opposite to the NF-light generating end surface. In the system, the excited surface plasmon can be amplified by using a resonator structure while reducing the length of the plasmon generator to reduce absorption of surface plasmon and prevent overheating of the plasmon generator.

Abstract: Provided is a thermally-assisted magnetic recording head in which NF-light with sufficiently high light density can be applied to a medium while a write-field generating point and a near-field light (NF-light) generating point are close to each other. The head comprises a plasmon generator provided between a magnetic pole and a waveguide and configured to be coupled with light propagating through the waveguide in a surface plasmon mode to emit NF-light. The plasmon generator comprises: a plasmon propagating part comprising a propagation edge for propagating surface plasmon excited by the light; and a light penetration suppressing part with an extinction coefficient greater than the plasmon propagating part. The light penetration suppressing part is in surface-contact with a surface portion of the plasmon propagating part excluding the propagation edge, and the magnetic pole is in surface-contact with the light penetration suppressing part.

Abstract: A near-field light generating element has a core that guides a laser light in a direction of a disk while reflecting the laser light, and a cladding that encapsulates the core in an inner portion, and lengths of a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction of an incident side end surface of the laser light in the core are formed so as to match the lengths of a long axis direction and a short axis direction of the laser light that is entered to the core.

Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic recording medium that includes a substrate 1, underlayers formed on the substrate 1, and a magnetic layer 5 which is formed on the underlayers and contains either an FePt alloy having an L10 structure or a CoPt alloy having an L10 structure as a main component, wherein the underlayers include a first underlayer 2 formed from an amorphous alloy, a second underlayer 3 formed from an alloy having a BCC structure containing Cr as a main component and also containing at least one element selected from among Ti, Mo, W, V, Mn and Ru, and a third underlayer 4 formed from MgO. Also, a magnetic storage device that uses the heat-assisted magnetic recording medium.

Abstract: Disclosed is a light spot forming element which is capable of forming a minute stabilized light spot efficiently and is easy to handle. For this purpose, there is provided a light spot forming element wherein a laser oscillation unit which has a periodic refractive index distribution and is employed as a laser resonator, and a focusing unit that receives the light emitted by this laser oscillation unit and forms a light spot by focusing this received light are formed on the same substrate.

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: In a magnetic recording head including an optical waveguide for guiding a laser beam to a surface of a magnetic recording medium, a shield is provided in the vicinity of at least one portion changing discontinuously in structure of the optical waveguide to absorb or reflect non-propagating light leaking from the discontinuous portion to the outside of the optical waveguide.

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: In a head for thermal assisted magnetic recording device, a semiconductor laser is mounted so that the total height of the head does not become larger and light power fluctuation due to wavelength fluctuation occurs less frequently. In addition, the rise in temperature of the mounted semiconductor laser is suppressed. A semiconductor laser is placed on a side surface which is different from surfaces on an inflow end side and a trailing side, of four side surfaces of a floating slider. An entrance of a waveguide is placed on the side surface of the floating slider, to thereby cause emitted light from the semiconductor laser to directly enter the waveguide. A curved line part or a reflective mirror is formed in the middle of the waveguide so that the light which has entered the waveguide travels toward an optical near-field generating element.

Abstract: In a thermally assisted magnetic recording head having a light source and a waveguide to lead a laser beam radiated from the light source to a front end of the magnetic head, while blocking an adverse effect of heat generated in the light source and securing a good floating characteristic, the light source and the magnetic head are optically coupled with high efficiency and the magnetic head itself is reduced in size. This invention provides a reflection mirror that is formed of a part or whole of one inclined end surface of the semiconductor laser mounted on the first submount. Near one end surface of the slider is provided the optical waveguide that pierces through the slider in a direction of the thickness thereof.

Abstract: An optical recording head to record information onto a recording medium utilizing light including; a slider provided to move relatively to the recording medium; a light propagation element provided on a side surface of the slider substantially vertical against a recording surface of the recording medium so as to cause propagation of light incident with a predetermined angle to be irradiated on the recording medium; and, a prism provided on the light propagation element so as to oppose to the side surface of the slider having the light propagation element and to deflect the incident light to be incident into the light propagation element with a predetermined angle.

Abstract: A thermally assisted magnetic recording head is formed of a slider and a magnetic head. The magnetic head includes a main pole, a reader, a coil, a near-field transducer, and a waveguide. A metal film with high thermal conductivity is formed at both sides of the near-field transducer in a width direction of the magnetic head. The use of the metal film as a radiator plate ensures to prevent the temperature of the near-field transducer from becoming locally high.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an information recording and reproduction apparatus which records the information on a disk by heating the disk with near-field light and causing magnetization reversal by applying a recording magnetic field to the disk. An optical waveguide 32, which introduces light beam emitted from a laser light source into a slider, and a plurality of electric wiring lines 31, which electrically connects the slider and a control unit to each other, are provided. A photoelectric composite wiring line 33 is provided in which the optical waveguide 32 and the plurality of electric wiring line 31 are integrally formed.

Abstract: A near-field optical head includes: a near-field light generating element, formed on a counter surface of a slider facing the surface of a magnetic recording medium and having two or more side surfaces each of which are in contact with the counter surface at a certain angle with the counter surface, for generating the near-field light; at least one lower wiring formed on at least one of the side surfaces of the near-field light generating element; a thin-film-like magnetic pole disposed to a position covering the lower wiring; at least one upper wiring disposed on one of the two sides of the magnetic pole, opposite to the side on which the lower wiring is disposed; at least one side surface wiring connecting the lower wiring and the upper wiring; insulating layers insulating each of the lower wiring, the magnetic pole, and the upper wiring from the others; and a coil wound around the magnetic pole by connecting the lower wiring and the upper wiring alternately and serially using the side surface wiring.