Abstract:
A thermally-assisted magnetic recording head of the invention includes: a waveguide; a plasmon generator; and a light-absorbing protrusion layer provided on a leading side of the plasmon generator. A ratio W1/W2 is within a range from 2/3 to 55/3, where W1 is a width of the light-absorbing protrusion layer in an air-bearing surface, and W2 is a width of the waveguide in the air-bearing surface.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a plasmon generator, in which a surface plasmon is excited by application of light. The plasmon generator extends along one direction. The plasmon generator includes a first end surface that is positioned on one end in the one direction and at which near-field light is generated along with the excitation of the plasmon; and a second cross section that is substantially parallel to the first end surface and is away from the first end surface. The first end surface has a polygonal shape that does not have a substantially acute inner angle. The second cross section has an upper part that has a shape substantially the same as or similar to that of the first end surface and a flare shaped lower part that is connected to the upper part and has a width that increases as it is far from the upper part.
Abstract:
A near-field light generator includes a waveguide, a plasmon generator, and an MgO layer. The waveguide includes a core and a cladding. The plasmon generator has an outer surface including a plasmon exciting part and a near-field light generating part, and is configured so that a surface plasmon is excited on the plasmon exciting part based on light propagating through the core, and the near-field light generating part generates near-field light based on the surface plasmon. The MgO layer is in contact with at least part of the outer surface of the plasmon generator excluding the near-field light generating part, and not in contact with the core. The cladding is lower in refractive index than the core and the MgO layer.
Abstract:
A plasmon generator generates surface plasmon and generates near-field light from the surface plasmon at a distal end surface situated on an air bearing surface facing a magnetic recording medium. The plasmon generator has a first portion including the distal end surface, a second portion situated away from the air bearing surface, and a separating layer situated between the first portion and the second portion and separating the first portion from the second portion.
Abstract:
Thermally-assisted magnetic recording head, includes: a magnetic pole having an end exposed on an air-bearing surface; a waveguide; a plasmon generator having a first and second region, first region extending backward from the air-bearing surface to a first position, second region being coupled with the first region at the first position, extending backward from first position, and having a width in a track-width direction, and width in the track-width direction of second region being larger than a width in the track-width direction of first region; an adhesion layer having an end exposed on the air-bearing surface and a first adhesion region, the first adhesion region being in close contact with an end face in the track-width direction of first region; and a cladding layer located around plasmon generator and adhesion layer. Adhesion force between adhesion layer and plasmon generator is greater than adhesion force between cladding layer and plasmon generator.
Abstract:
A thermally assisted magnetic recording head includes a plasmon-generator that generates near-field light (NF light) from a near-field light generating portion on a near field light generator end surface constituting a portion of the medium opposing surface. The plasmon-generator has a first PG part having the near field light generator end surface constituting a portion of the medium opposing surface, and a second PG part positioned at a back side compared to the medium opposing surface when viewed from the medium opposing surface side. When viewed from the medium opposing surface side, the first PG part extends toward the back side from the medium opposing surface, and the second PG part is placed to contact at least a portion of both side surfaces of the first PG part. A material that configures the first PG part is a material having high thermostability compared to a material that configures the second PG part, and the material that configures the second PG part is a material having high excitation efficiency of plasmon compared to the material that configures the first PG part.
Abstract:
The thermally-assisted magnetic recording head includes: a magnetic pole having an end exposed on an air-bearing surface; a waveguide; a plasmon generator formed essentially of a first metallic material, and having a first region and a second region, the first region extending backward from the air-bearing surface to a first position, and the second region being coupled with the first region at the first position and extending backward from the first position; and a metallic layer filling a part in the second region, and formed essentially of a second metallic material that has a higher melting temperature than a melting temperature of the first metallic material.
Abstract:
A plasmon generator of a thermally-assisted magnetic recording head has a first configuration member having a near-field light generation end surface at an ABS, and a second configuration member being in contact with main magnetic pole, and terminating at a front end portion of a slope positioned at the position recessed from the ABS. An end part of a separator layer, which is interposed between the main magnetic pole and the first configuration member, on a side opposite to the ABS is at a position more recessed from the air bearing surface than the front end portion of the slope of the second configuration member.
Abstract:
The thermally-assisted magnetic recording head of the invention includes: a waveguide; a magnetic pole; a cladding layer provided between the waveguide and the magnetic pole; and a plasmon generator embedded in the cladding layer. The cladding layer includes a first cladding section located on a side close to an air-bearing surface and a second cladding section located on a side far from the air-bearing surface, and a thermal expansion coefficient of the first cladding section is larger than a thermal expansion coefficient of the second cladding section.
Abstract:
A thermal assisted magnetic recording head of the present invention has an air bearing surface (ABS) opposite to a magnetic recording medium, a core that can propagate laser light as propagating light, a plasmon generator that includes a generator front end surface facing the ABS, and a main pole that faces the ABS and emits magnetic flux to the magnetic recording medium. The plasmon generator is opposite to a part of the core and extends to the generator front surface, is coupled with a portion of the propagating light that propagates through the core in the surface plasmon mode to generate a surface plasmon, propagates the surface plasmon to the generator front end surface, and generates near-field light (NF light) at the generator front end surface to irradiate the NF light to the magnetic recording medium. The ABS has a protrusion that is closer to the leading side than the generator front end surface in the down track direction, and that protrudes more toward the magnetic recording medium than the generator front end surface upon operation of the thermal assisted magnetic recording head.