Thermally assisted magnetic recording head with intermediate disk

Abstract

This application discloses a heat-assisted magnetic recording head with an intermediate disk. A heat-assisted magnetic recording head includes a near-field transmitter and an intermediate disk. The near-field transmitter includes a post and an anchor disk. The post is configured to generate a hot spot on the near-end disk. The post is disposed near the medium-facing surface of the heat-assisted magnetic recording head. The anchor disk is disposed behind the post relative to the medium-facing surface. The intermediate disk has a melting temperature of at least 1500 degrees Celsius. The intermediate disk is disposed relative to the near-field transmitter along the down-track direction and coupled to the anchor disk.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to a near-field transducer for a heat-assisted magnetic recording head of a hard disk drive. Background Technology

[0002] Some hard disk drives (HDDs) utilize heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) to increase the areal density of the HDD. The recording head of a HAMR HDD typically includes a laser, a near-field transducer (NFT) configured to briefly heat small hot spots on the disk surface of the HDD, and write poles configured to write data to the disk near the hot spots. The process of generating and concentrating localized surface plasma (LSP) on the NFT to create hot spots generates a significant amount of heat, which can potentially degrade and / or deform various components of the NFT, thereby potentially reducing the performance and / or expected lifespan of the HAMR head and the HDD. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This disclosure describes a heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) head with a near-field transducer (NFT) comprising a near-field emitter and a more thermally stable intermediate disk. In some embodiments, the near-field emitter is a single, continuous feature comprising a post disposed near a medium-facing surface of the HAMR head and an anchoring disk disposed behind the post and opposite the medium-facing surface. The intermediate disk comprises at least one thermally stable material. In some embodiments, providing an intermediate disk comprising a thermally stable material can reduce or prevent certain failure modes (e.g., intermediate disk denting) from thermal exposure. A thermally stable intermediate disk can improve the reliability of the HAMR head.

[0004] In one embodiment, the HAMR head includes a near-field transmitter comprising: a post configured to generate a hot spot on a proximal disk, the post being disposed near the media-facing surface of the heat-assisted magnetic recording head; an anchor disk disposed behind the post, opposite the media-facing surface; and an intermediate disk having a melting temperature of at least 1500 degrees Celsius, wherein the intermediate disk is disposed opposite the near-field transmitter along a descending track direction and coupled to the anchor disk.

[0005] In another embodiment, the HAMR head includes a near-field transducer comprising: a plasmonic disk; an intermediate disk having a melting temperature of at least 1500 degrees Celsius; and a near-field emitter comprising: an anchor disk occupying a region of a plane defined by the transtrack dimension of the HAMR head and the medium-facing dimension of the HAMR head; and a post occupying a smaller region in the plane than the region occupied by the anchor disk in the plane, wherein the post is positioned close to the medium-facing surface of the HAMR head, and wherein the anchor disk is disposed behind the post, opposite the medium-facing surface.

[0006] These and other features and aspects of the various embodiments will be understood in light of the following detailed discussion and accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0007] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hard disk drive according to various aspects of the present disclosure.

[0008] Figure 2 is a perspective view of a floating block according to various aspects of the present disclosure.

[0009] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of an HAMR head according to various aspects of the present disclosure.

[0010] Figure 4 is a perspective view of an HAMR head according to various aspects of the present disclosure.

[0011] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of an HAMR head according to various aspects of the present disclosure.

[0012] Figure 6 is a perspective view of an HAMR head according to various aspects of the present disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0013] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) hard disk drive (HDD) according to embodiments of various aspects of this disclosure. HDD 100 includes a head stack assembly (HSA) 110 and one or more disks 108. HSA 110 includes a plurality of head gimbal assemblies (HGA) 120. Each HGA 120 includes a floating block 122. The HSA 110 of Figure 1 includes a voice coil driven actuator 112. The voice coil driven actuator 112 generates a magnetic field that applies a force to actuator mechanism 114, causing actuator mechanism 114 to rotate about axis 116 in one of two rotational directions. Rotatable drive actuator arm 118 is mechanically coupled to actuator mechanism 114 and each HGA 120 such that rotating actuator mechanism 114 causes rotatable drive actuator arm 118 and HGA 120 to move relative to disk 108, thereby causing floating block 122 to move relative to disk 108.

[0014] Figure 2 is a perspective view of a floating block 222 according to embodiments of various aspects of the present disclosure. The floating block 222 is... Figure 1 An embodiment of the floating block 222. In the embodiment of FIG2, the floating block 222 includes a floating block body 224, a laser 226, a base 228, and an HAMR head 240.

[0015] The HAMR head 240 is configured to read data from and write data to the surface of the disk. The HAMR head 240 includes a waveguide 230, a near-field transducer (NFT) 250, a writer 260, and a reader 270. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, during some operations of the HDD (e.g., write operations, read operations), some features or portions of the NFT 250, writer 260, and reader 270 are presented on a media-facing surface 205 located above the disk surface. In some embodiments, the media-facing surface 205 is an air cushion surface (ABS) configured to hold the HAMR head 240 at a target distance (e.g., head-to-media pitch) from the disk surface during some operations of the HDD 100. During such operations, the media-facing surface 205 faces the moving surface of the disk and is kept close to the moving surface of the disk by an air cushion known as Active Air Support (AAB), which is generated by a dynamic flow of gas through a recessed sub-surface pattern confined within a floating block 224 by the media-facing surface 205.

[0016] Laser 226 is configured to emit photons at a target wavelength. In some embodiments, laser 226 emits photons with wavelengths in the near-infrared range (e.g., approximately 830 nm) or the visible range. Embodiments of laser 226 include optically pumped semiconductor lasers, quantum well lasers, integrated lasers, or other suitable lasers. Laser 226 in this embodiment may be configured as an edge-emitting laser (EEL), a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL), or other types of lasers. Other embodiments of the HAMR head may include other types of light sources, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and surface-emitting diodes.

[0017] In one embodiment, laser 226 is coupled to floating block 224 via base 228. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, laser 226 and base 228 are located on the surface of floating block 224 opposite to the medium-facing surface 205. In some embodiments, laser 226 may be directly mounted to floating block 224. Base 228 may be configured to redirect photons output from laser 226 such that photons are guided in the negative z-direction of FIG. 2 into waveguide 230 (e.g., toward NFT 250). The path between laser 226 and waveguide 230 may include one or more optical couplers, mode converters, and / or mode couplers. Waveguide 230 is entirely located within floating block 224 and is configured to deliver photons from laser 226 to NFT 250. Although Figure 2 shows the laser 226 coupled to the floating block 224 via the base 228, in some embodiments, the laser 226 may be mounted directly onto the floating block 224.

[0018] NFT 250 is configured to generate small hot spots on the disk. For example, when incident photons are received from laser 226 via waveguide 230, NFT can generate and support the distribution of localized surface plasmons (LSPs), and can concentrate the LSP distribution onto a region or feature of NFT 250. NFT 250 amplifies the near field of the concentrated LSP distribution and focuses the near field onto the surface of the disk (e.g., disk 108 in FIG. 1) to generate hot spots. Writer 260 is configured to generate a magnetic field through an electric current and direct the magnetic field to the hot spots on the disk. The near-field energy heats and reduces the coercivity of the magnetic particles in the hot spots, thereby enabling these magnetic particles to be oriented by the magnetic field generated by writer 260. Turning off laser 226 or moving NFT 250 toward different locations on the disk (or moving the disk so that NFT 250 faces different locations on the disk) removes the concentrated near-field energy from the hot spots. Removing the near-field energy cools the magnetic particles contained in the hot spots. Cooling locks the particle orientation induced by the magnetic field generated by the writer 260, thereby preserving the bits of the written data.

[0019] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of an HAMR head according to embodiments of various aspects of the present disclosure. The HAMR head 340 includes a waveguide 330, an NFT 350, a write electrode 362, a heat sink 355, and a diffuser 336. The NFT 350 includes a plasmonic disk 353, a near-field emitter 352, and an intermediate disk 354.

[0020] Waveguide 330 is positioned relative to plasmonic disk 353, near-field emitter 352, and intermediate disk 354 along the ascending magnetic track direction. Waveguide 330 guides photons from a light source (e.g., laser 226 in FIG. 2) toward NFT 350. In some embodiments, waveguide 330 includes multiple optical layers. For example, waveguide 330 may include a waveguide core 332 and a core-to-NFT spacing (CNS) layer 334. CNS layer 334 may be part of a cladding structure that also includes a rear cladding layer 331 and / or a front cladding layer 333. In some embodiments, waveguide core 332 includes a first dielectric material having a first refractive index (e.g., niobium oxide, tantalum oxide), and CNS layer 334 includes a second dielectric material having a second refractive index (e.g., aluminum oxide, silicon dioxide). Photons guided by waveguide 330 toward NFT 350 can couple to the free electrons of NFT 350 and excite one or more LSP resonant modes of NFT 350.

[0021] The NFT 350 is configured to amplify and emit a near-field 394 to create a hot spot 387 on the disk 308. The near-field 394 and the magnetic field from the write pole 362 are directed to partially coincide at the point 387, such that the temperature rise caused by the near-field 394 reduces the coercivity of the particles within the hot spot 387, and makes it easier for the magnetic field from the write pole 362 to orient them, resulting in more stable write data bits upon cooling.

[0022] A heat sink 355 is disposed relative to and coupled to an intermediate disk 354 along a downtrack direction. In some embodiments, the heat sink 355 and the intermediate disk 354 are coupled to each other at an interface 374 substantially perpendicular to a surface 305 facing the medium. The interface 374 includes a downtrack surface of the intermediate disk 354 and an uptrack surface of the heat sink 355. The heat sink 355 is configured to draw heat away from areas of the NFT 350 and direct heat to other areas of the HAMR head 340. In embodiments of the HAMR head 340, the heat sink 355 is coupled to a diffuser 336, which is disposed relative to the heat sink 355 along a downtrack direction. The diffuser 336 is a heat sink configured to absorb heat from the NFT 350 and dissipate heat to other areas of the HAMR head 340 (e.g., to other heat sinks). In some embodiments, absorbing heat from areas of the NFT 350 that are prone to thermal degradation can reduce defect formation in the NFT 350 and / or extend the service life of the HAMR head 340. The heat sink 355 and / or diffuser 336 may include a thermally conductive material (e.g., gold). In some embodiments, the heat sink 355 includes rhodium, copper, tungsten, tantalum, iridium, platinum, ruthenium, nickel, iron, or combinations thereof.

[0023] Plasmonic disk 353 is disposed relative to near-field emitter 352 and intermediate disk 354 along the uptrack direction. Plasmonic disk 353 is coupled to waveguide 330. In some embodiments, plasmonic disk 353 and waveguide 330 are coupled to each other at an interface 370 substantially perpendicular to the dielectric-facing surface 305. Interface 370 includes the downtrack surface of waveguide 330 and the uptrack surface of plasmonic disk 353.

[0024] Plasmonic disk 353 is configured to generate and support LSPs via resonant coupling of electrons with incident photons generated by a light source (e.g., laser 226 in FIG. 2) and guided to NFT 350 by waveguide 330. Plasmonic disk 353 comprises a plasmonic metal. In this document, a plasmonic metal is a metal having properties (e.g., electrical properties, optical properties) that promote resonant coupling between photons incident on the plasmonic metal and the free electrons of the plasmonic metal. This resonant coupling of photons with the free electrons of the plasmonic metal can excite one or more plasmonic modes of the plasmonic metal, which can lead to the generation of an LSP on the surface of the plasmonic metal. Plasmonic metals that exhibit efficient plasmonic generation in response to photons of a wavelength target or range are considered to have a high plasmonic quality factor. Examples of plasmonic metals include gold, silver, ruthenium, copper, aluminum, and / or rhodium. In some cases, the plasmonic disk 553 includes one of these plasmonic metals, an alloy of these plasmonic metals, and / or another noble metal including palladium, osmium, iridium, or platinum.

[0025] Near-field transmitter 352 is configured to emit a near-field 394 to generate a hotspot 387 on disk 308. Near-field transmitter 352 includes a post 352A and an anchor disk 352B. Post 352A is positioned near the media-facing surface 305 of the HAMR head 340. In some cases, one or more portions of post 352A are exposed on the media-facing surface 305. Post 352A is configured to receive and amplify the near-field of the LSP distribution and emit the near-field 394 to generate a hotspot 387 on disk 308.

[0026] Anchor plate 352B is positioned behind post 352A relative to medium-facing surface 305 (e.g., in...). +y In terms of direction, and media-oriented -y (Directions opposite). Anchor disk 352B is coupled to plasmonic disk 353. In some embodiments, anchor disk 352B and plasmonic disk 353 are coupled to each other at an interface 373 substantially perpendicular to the medium-facing surface 305. Interface 373 includes the downtrack surface of plasmonic disk 353 and the uptrack surface of anchor disk 352B. Anchor disk 352B is coupled to intermediate disk 354. In some embodiments, intermediate disk 354 and anchor disk 352B are coupled to each other at an interface 372 substantially perpendicular to the medium-facing surface 305. Interface 372 includes the downtrack surface of anchor disk 352B and the uptrack surface of intermediate disk 354.

[0027] Anchor disk 352B is configured to support the distribution of LSPs. In some embodiments, anchor disk 352B is configured to participate in LSP generation. For example, post 352A can generate hotspot 387 by receiving and aggregating the distribution of LSPs from anchor disk 352B and / or other features, amplifying the near field of the LSP distribution, and emitting amplified near field 394 onto the surface of disk 308.

[0028] In some embodiments, the near-field emitter 352 is a single, continuous feature comprising a pillar 352A and an anchor disk 352B. That is, the pillar 352A and the anchor disk 352B can be a single region or feature. For example, the near-field emitter 352 can be deposited during a single manufacturing level or step (e.g., a photolithography level, a metal deposition step), wherein the shape and size of the pillar 352A and the anchor disk 352B are defined by a photolithographic pattern. In these embodiments, the near-field emitter 352 can taper or narrow towards the pillar 352A. The pillar 352A can protrude from the anchor disk 352B near the surface 305 facing the medium to allow the LSP to transfer from the anchor disk 352B to the pillar 352A and to allow the pillar 352A to amplify and emit a near field 394 towards the disk 308. In some embodiments, the pillar 352A and the anchor disk 352B each comprise one or more of the same material. For example, both the column 352A and the anchor plate 352B may include iridium, rhodium, ruthenium, gold alloys, gold complexes (e.g., gold nanoparticle complexes) or combinations thereof.

[0029] Intermediate disk 354 is disposed relative to near-field emitter 352 along the descending magnetic track direction and coupled to anchor disk 352B. In some embodiments, intermediate disk 354 is configured to guide localized surface plasma to pillar 352A of near-field emitter 352. In some embodiments, intermediate disk 354 is configured to attenuate the background field.

[0030] According to certain aspects of this disclosure, the intermediate disk 354 has a high melting temperature (e.g., at least 1500°C). In some embodiments, the intermediate disk 354 has a melting temperature of at least 1800°C or at least 2200°C. The intermediate disk 354 having a high melting temperature can increase the lifetime of the NFT 350 by reducing the likelihood of melting, void formation, diffusion, densification, and / or other defects at temperatures reached in the HAMR head under normal operating conditions.

[0031] A high melting temperature can be achieved by adding one or more metals to the intermediate disk 354. For example, the intermediate disk 354 may include a transition metal. The transition metal of the intermediate disk 354 may be a platinum group metal (e.g., iridium, ruthenium, rhodium, osmium, platinum, palladium).

[0032] In some embodiments, the transition metal is the primary metal of the intermediate disk 354. In this document, the term "primary metal" means that the amount of metal present in a feature (e.g., atomic percentage or weight percentage) is greater than that of any other metal also present in the same feature. That is, the primary metal constitutes more than 50% of the atoms of the intermediate disk 354, while other portions of the intermediate disk 354 comprise one or more other materials. For example, the primary metal constitutes at least 50% of the atoms of the intermediate disk 354. In some embodiments, the primary metal constitutes at least 90% of the atoms of the intermediate disk 354 (e.g., 95%, 99%, 99.9%).

[0033] In some embodiments, the transition metal is a component of the alloy of the intermediate disk 354. That is, the transition metal may be combined with one or more other metals (e.g., other transition metals such as gold or non-transition metals) to form the alloy of the intermediate disk 354.

[0034] Figure 4 is a perspective view of an HAMR head according to embodiments of various aspects of the present disclosure. Figure 4 may be a perspective view of the HAMR head 340 of Figure 3, wherein the cross-sectional view of the HAMR head 340 shown in Figure 3 is defined by the lines in Figure 4. 3 - 3 The direction indicated by the arrow. The HAMR head 440 includes an NFT 450 and a heat sink 455. The NFT 450 includes a plasmonic disk 453, a near-field emitter 452, and a central disk 454.

[0035] Heat sink 455 is disposed relative to intermediate disk 454 along the downward track direction. Heat sink 455 and intermediate disk 454 are coupled to each other at interface 474. In some embodiments, interface 474 is substantially perpendicular to the medium-facing surface 405 and substantially parallel to the cross-track and medium-facing directions of HAMR head 440 (respectively). z and y ).

[0036] The near-field emitter includes a post 452A and an anchor disk 452B. Post 452A is disposed near the medium-facing surface 405 of the HAMR head 440. Anchor disk 452B is disposed behind post 452A relative to the medium-facing surface 405. In some embodiments, the near-field emitter 452 is a single continuous feature including post 452A and anchor disk 452B. Anchor disk 452B occupies the transtrack direction of the HAMR head 440 (…). z ) and the media-facing direction of the HAMR head 440 ( y The area defined by the plane (hereinafter referred to as the "near-field emitter plane"). The near-field emitter plane may be perpendicular to the surface 405 facing the medium. The area of ​​the near-field emitter plane occupied by the column 452A is smaller than the area of ​​the near-field emitter plane occupied by the anchor plate 452B.

[0037] Plasmon disk 453 is disposed relative to near-field emitter 452 along the ascending magnetic track direction. Anchor disk 452B is coupled to plasmon disk at interface 473. In some embodiments, interface 473 is substantially perpendicular to the medium-facing surface 405.

[0038] Intermediate disk 454 is disposed relative to near-field emitter 452 along the downtrack direction. Anchor disk 452B is coupled to intermediate disk 454 at interface 472. In some embodiments, interface 472 is substantially perpendicular to the medium-facing surface 405. Intermediate disk 454 comprises a thermally stable primary metal.

[0039] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of an HAMR head according to embodiments of various aspects of the present disclosure. The HAMR head 540 includes a waveguide 530, an NFT 550, a write electrode 562, a heat sink 555, and a diffuser 536. The NFT 550 includes a plasmonic disk 553, a near-field emitter 552, and an intermediate disk 554.

[0040] Waveguide 530 is disposed along the ascending magnetic track direction relative to plasmonic disk 553, near-field emitter 552, and intermediate disk 554. In some embodiments, waveguide 530 includes multiple optical layers. For example, waveguide 530 may include a waveguide core 532 and a core-to-NFT spacing (CNS) layer 534. CNS layer 534 may be part of a cladding structure that also includes a rear cladding 531 and / or a front cladding 533. In some embodiments, waveguide core 532 includes a first dielectric material having a first refractive index (e.g., niobium oxide, tantalum oxide), and CNS layer 534 includes a second dielectric material having a second, different refractive index (e.g., aluminum oxide, silicon dioxide).

[0041] Plasmonic disk 553 is disposed relative to near-field emitter 552 and intermediate disk 554 along the uptrack direction. Plasmonic disk 553 is coupled to waveguide 530. In some embodiments, plasmonic disk 553 and waveguide 530 are coupled to each other at an interface 570 on a dielectric-facing surface 505 substantially perpendicular to the HAMR head 540. Interface 570 includes the downtrack surface of waveguide 530 and the uptrack surface of plasmonic disk 553.

[0042] The near-field emitter 552 includes a post 552A and an anchoring disc 552B. The post 552A is positioned near a medium-facing surface 505. In some cases, one or more portions of the post 552A are exposed on the medium-facing surface 505. The anchoring disc 552B is positioned behind the post 552A relative to the medium-facing surface 505 (e.g., at...). +y In terms of direction, and media-oriented -y (Directions opposite). Anchor disk 552B is coupled to plasmonic disk 553. In some embodiments, anchor disk 552B and plasmonic disk 553 are coupled to each other at an interface 573 substantially perpendicular to the medium-facing surface 505. Interface 573 includes the downtrack surface of plasmonic disk 553 and the uptrack surface of anchor disk 552B. Anchor disk 552B is coupled to intermediate disk 554.

[0043] In some embodiments, the near-field emitter 552 is a single, continuous feature comprising a post 552A and an anchor disk 552B. That is, the post 552A and the anchor disk 552B can be a single region or feature. In these embodiments, the near-field emitter 552 may taper or narrow towards the post 552A. The post 552A protrudes from the anchor disk 552B near the surface 505 facing the medium, allowing the LSP to transfer from the anchor disk 552B to the post 552A and enabling the post 552A to amplify and emit a near-field towards the disk. In one embodiment, the post 552A and the anchor disk 552B each comprise one or more of the same material. In some embodiments, both the post 552A and the anchor disk 552B may comprise iridium, rhodium, ruthenium, gold alloys, gold composites (e.g., gold nanoparticle composites), or combinations thereof.

[0044] Intermediate disk 554 is disposed relative to near-field transmitter 552 along the downtrack direction and coupled to anchor disk 552B. In some embodiments, intermediate disk 554 and anchor disk 552B are coupled to each other at an interface 572 substantially perpendicular to the medium-facing surface 505. Interface 572 includes the downtrack surface of anchor disk 552B and the uptrack surface of intermediate disk 554.

[0045] In some embodiments, the intermediate disk 554 comprises a primary metal. In some embodiments, the primary metal constitutes at least 50% of the atoms of the intermediate disk 554. In some embodiments, the primary metal constitutes at least 90% of the atoms of the intermediate disk 554. In some embodiments, the primary metal constitutes at least 95% of the atoms of the intermediate disk 554. In some embodiments, the primary metal constitutes at least 99% of the atoms of the intermediate disk 554.

[0046] A heat sink 555 is disposed relative to and coupled to an intermediate disk 554 along the descending track direction. In some embodiments, the heat sink 555 and the intermediate disk 554 are coupled to each other at an interface 574 on a medium-facing surface 505 substantially perpendicular to the HAMR head 540. The interface 574 includes a surface 584 of the intermediate disk 554. S and the surface of the radiator 555 585 S .

[0047] The heat sink 555 includes a core 555A comprising a main metal component and a liner 555B. The liner 555B is connected to the core 555A and extends along the outer surface 585A of the core 555A. S1 and 585A S2Setup. The intermediate disk 554 is positioned between and coupled to the liner 555B and the anchor disk 552B.

[0048] Lining 555B includes Part 1 555B A The first portion is substantially parallel to the intermediate disk 554 and is disposed between the intermediate disk 554 and the core 555A, and coupled to both the intermediate disk 554 and the core 555A. The liner 555B includes the second portion 555B. B The second part is oriented substantially perpendicular to the intermediate disk 554 and substantially parallel to the downward track direction of the HAMR head 540.

[0049] Heat sink 555 includes a descending magnetic track surface 585 on the side of heat sink 555 opposite to intermediate disk 554. S 585 mm of the surface of the down-track track S The surface 505 is tilted away from the medium-facing surface in the direction of the descending track. (Descending track surface 585) S Including the 555A core and the 585A surface S3 And the edge of lining 555B 585B E 585 mm of the surface of the down-track track S Coupled to diffuser 536.

[0050] According to certain aspects of this disclosure, the liner 555B has a high melting temperature (e.g., at least 1500°C). In some embodiments, the liner 555B has a melting temperature of at least 1800°C or at least 2200°C. Providing a liner 555B with a high melting temperature along one or more outer surfaces of the core 555A can reduce the formation of thermal defects in the core 555A (e.g., a gold-containing core 555A). For example, a liner 555B with a high melting temperature can reduce depressions in a gold-containing core 555A, where depressions begin near the post 552A and develop away from the medium-facing surface 505. In some embodiments, including a liner 555B with a high melting temperature can reduce or eliminate delamination between the intermediate disk 554 and the heat sink 555 when the HAMR head 540 is exposed to thermal stress. The inclusion of a liner 555B with a high melting temperature enables the radiator 555 to dissipate heat more effectively during long-term operation of the HAMR head 540 and can extend the life of the HAMR head 540.

[0051] A high melting temperature can be achieved by incorporating one or more metals into the liner 555B. For example, the liner 555B may include a transition metal. The transition metal of the liner 555B may be a platinum group metal (e.g., iridium, ruthenium, rhodium, osmium, platinum, palladium). In some embodiments, the transition metal is a component of an alloy of the liner 555B.

[0052] In some embodiments, the transition metal is the primary metal of the liner 555B. That is, the transition metal may constitute at least 50% of the atoms of the liner 555B (e.g., 90%, 95%, 99%, 99.9%). In some cases, the primary metal of the liner 555B is different from the primary metal of the core 555A.

[0053] Figure 6 is a perspective view of an HAMR head according to embodiments of various aspects of the present disclosure. Figure 6 may be a perspective view of the HAMR head 540 of Figure 5, wherein the cross-sectional view of the HAMR head 540 shown in Figure 5 is defined by the lines in Figure 6. 5 - 5 The arrow indicates the direction. The HAMR head 640 includes an NFT 650 and a heatsink 655. The NFT 650 includes a plasmonic disk 653, a near-field emitter 652, and an intermediate disk 654.

[0054] The near-field emitter includes a post 652A and an anchoring disk 652B. Post 652A is disposed near the medium-facing surface 605 of the HAMR head 640. Anchoring disk 652B is disposed behind post 652A relative to the medium-facing surface 605. In some embodiments, the near-field emitter 652 is a single continuous feature including post 652A and anchoring disk 652B. Anchoring disk 652B occupies the transtrack direction of the HAMR head 640 (…). z ) and the media-facing direction of the HAMR head 640 ( y The area defined by the plane (hereinafter referred to as the "near-field emitter plane"). The near-field emitter plane may be perpendicular to the surface 605 facing the medium. The area of ​​the near-field emitter plane occupied by the pillar 652A is smaller than the area of ​​the near-field emitter plane occupied by the anchor plate 652B.

[0055] Plasmon disk 653 is disposed relative to near-field emitter 652 along the ascending magnetic track direction. Anchor disk 652B is coupled to plasmon disk at interface 673. In some embodiments, interface 673 is substantially perpendicular to the medium-facing surface 605.

[0056] Intermediate disk 654 is disposed relative to near-field emitter 652 along the downtrack direction. Anchor disk 652B is coupled to intermediate disk 654 at interface 672. In some embodiments, interface 672 is substantially perpendicular to the medium-facing surface 605. Intermediate disk 654 comprises a thermally stable primary metal.

[0057] Heat sink 655 is disposed relative to intermediate disk 654 along the downward track direction. Heat sink 655 and intermediate disk 654 are coupled to each other at interface 674. In some embodiments, interface 674 is substantially perpendicular to the medium-facing surface 605 and substantially parallel to the cross-track and medium-facing directions of HAMR head 640 (respectively). z and y ).

[0058] The heat sink 655 includes a core 655A comprising a main metal and a liner 655B comprising a main metal. The liner 655B includes a first portion 655B. A The first portion is substantially parallel to the intermediate disk 654 and is disposed between the intermediate disk 654 and the core 655A, and coupled to both the intermediate disk 654 and the core 655A. The liner 655B includes the second portion 655B. B The second part is oriented substantially perpendicular to the intermediate disk 654 and substantially parallel to the downward track direction of the HAMR head 640. Liner 655B is located on the side of core 655A facing the near-field transducer 650. S1 The curved outer surface 655A of the core 655A, which is substantially parallel to the direction of the descending magnetic track. S2 Upper enclosed core 655. Heat sink 655 includes a descending magnetic track surface 685 on the side of the heat sink 655 opposite to the intermediate disk 654. S Downward track surface 685 S The surface 605 is tilted away from the medium-facing surface in the direction of the descending track. (Descending track surface 685) S Including the 685A surface of the core 655A S3 And the edge of lining 655B 685B E .

[0059] Further examples:

[0060] Example 1. A heat-assisted magnetic recording head comprising: a near-field transmitter including: a post configured to generate a hot spot on a near-end disk, the post being disposed near the medium-facing surface of the heat-assisted magnetic recording head; an anchor disk disposed behind the post relative to the medium-facing surface; and an intermediate disk having a melting temperature of at least 1500 degrees Celsius, wherein the intermediate disk is disposed relative to the near-field transmitter along a down-track direction and coupled to the anchor disk.

[0061] Example 2. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to Example 1, wherein the intermediate disk comprises a transition metal.

[0062] Example 3. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to Example 2, wherein the transition metal is the main metal of the intermediate disk.

[0063] Example 4. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to Example 3, wherein the primary metal comprises at least 95% of the atoms of the intermediate disk.

[0064] Example 5. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to Example 2, wherein the transition metal is a component of the alloy of the intermediate disk.

[0065] Example 6. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to Example 2, wherein the transition metal is a platinum group metal.

[0066] Example 7. A heat-assisted magnetic recording head including a near-field transducer, comprising: a plasmonic disk; an intermediate disk having a melting temperature of at least 1500 degrees Celsius; and a near-field emitter comprising: an anchor disk occupying a region of a plane defined by a track dimension of the heat-assisted magnetic recording head and a medium-facing dimension of the heat-assisted magnetic recording head; and a post occupying a smaller planar area than the planar area occupied by the anchor disk, wherein the post is disposed near a medium-facing surface of the heat-assisted magnetic recording head, and wherein the anchor disk is disposed behind the post relative to the medium-facing surface.

[0067] Example 8. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to Example 7, wherein the intermediate disk comprises a transition metal.

[0068] Example 9. A heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to Example 8, wherein the transition metal is the main metal of the intermediate disk.

[0069] Example 10. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to Example 9, wherein the primary metal comprises at least 95% of the atoms of the intermediate disk.

[0070] Example 11. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to Example 8, wherein the transition metal is a component of the alloy of the intermediate disk.

[0071] Example 12. A heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to Example 8, wherein the transition metal is a platinum group metal.

[0072] Example 13. A heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to Example 7, wherein the intermediate disk is disposed relative to the near-field transmitter along the down-track direction, and wherein the intermediate disk is coupled to the anchor disk.

[0073] Example 14. A heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to Example 13, wherein the intermediate disk and the anchor disk are coupled to each other at an interface substantially perpendicular to the medium-facing surface of the heat-assisted magnetic recording head, and wherein the interface includes the surface of the anchor disk and the surface of the intermediate disk.

[0074] Example 15. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to Example 7, wherein the plasmonic disk is disposed relative to the intermediate disk along the ascending track direction, and wherein the anchor disk is coupled to the plasmonic disk.

[0075] Example 16. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to Example 15, wherein the anchor disk and the plasmonic disk are coupled to each other at an interface substantially perpendicular to the surface facing the medium, and wherein the interface includes the surface of the plasmonic disk and the surface of the anchor disk.

[0076] Example 17. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to Example 7 further includes a heat sink, wherein the heat sink is disposed relative to the intermediate disk along the down-track direction, and wherein the heat sink is coupled to the intermediate disk.

[0077] Example 18. A heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to Example 17, wherein the heat sink and the intermediate disk are coupled to each other at an interface substantially perpendicular to the surface facing the medium, and wherein the interface includes the surface of the intermediate disk and the surface of the heat sink.

[0078] Example 19. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to Example 7 further includes a waveguide, wherein the waveguide is disposed relative to the intermediate disk along the ascending track direction, and wherein the plasmonic disk is coupled to the waveguide.

[0079] Example 20. A heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to Example 19, wherein the plasmonic disk and the waveguide are coupled to each other at an interface substantially perpendicular to the surface facing the medium, and wherein the interface includes the surface of the waveguide and the surface of the plasmonic disk.

Claims

1. A heat-assisted magnetic recording head, comprising: Plasmon disk; Near-field emitter, comprising: A column, configured to generate a hot spot on the near-end of the disk, is disposed near the media-facing surface of the heat-assisted magnetic recording head; and An anchoring disc is disposed behind the post relative to the surface facing the medium; and The intermediate plate has a melting temperature of at least 1500 degrees Celsius. The plasmonic disk is positioned relative to the intermediate disk along the upward magnetic track direction. The anchoring disk is coupled to the plasmonic disk, and The intermediate disk is positioned relative to the near-field transmitter along the downward magnetic track direction and is coupled to the anchor disk.

2. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate disk comprises a transition metal.

3. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to claim 2, wherein the transition metal is the main metal of the intermediate disk, and the amount of the main metal in the intermediate disk is greater than that of any other metal in the intermediate disk.

4. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to claim 3, wherein the primary metal comprises at least 95% of the atoms of the intermediate disk.

5. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to claim 2, wherein the transition metal is a component of the alloy of the intermediate disk.

6. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to claim 2, wherein the transition metal is a platinum group metal.

7. A heat-assisted magnetic recording head including a near-field transducer, comprising: Plasmon disk; The intermediate plate has a melting temperature of at least 1500 degrees Celsius; and Near-field emitter, comprising: An anchoring disk occupies an area of ​​a plane defined by the track-crossing dimension of the thermally assisted magnetic recording head and the media-facing dimension of the thermally assisted magnetic recording head; and The column occupies a smaller plane area than the anchor plate. The posts are arranged near the medium-facing surface of the heat-assisted magnetic recording head. The anchoring disc is positioned behind the post relative to the surface facing the medium. The plasmonic disk is positioned relative to the intermediate disk along the upward magnetic track direction, and The anchoring disk is coupled to the plasmonic disk.

8. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to claim 7, wherein the intermediate disk comprises a transition metal.

9. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head of claim 8, wherein the transition metal is the primary metal of the intermediate disk, and the amount of the primary metal in the intermediate disk is greater than that of any other metal in the intermediate disk.

10. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head of claim 9, wherein the primary metal comprises at least 95% of the atoms of the intermediate disk.

11. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to claim 8, wherein the transition metal is a component of the alloy of the intermediate disk.

12. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to claim 8, wherein the transition metal is a platinum group metal.

13. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to claim 7, The intermediate disk is positioned relative to the near-field transmitter along the downward magnetic track direction, and The intermediate disk is coupled to the anchor disk.

14. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to claim 13, The intermediate disk and the anchor disk are coupled to each other at an interface substantially perpendicular to the medium-facing surface of the heat-assisted magnetic recording head, and The interface includes the surface of the anchor plate and the surface of the intermediate plate.

15. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to claim 7, The anchoring disk and the plasmonic disk are coupled to each other at an interface substantially perpendicular to the surface facing the medium. The interface includes the surface of the plasmon disk and the surface of the anchor disk.

16. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to claim 7, further comprising a heat sink, The heat sink is positioned relative to the intermediate disk along the downward magnetic track direction, and The heat sink is coupled to the intermediate disk.

17. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to claim 16, The heat sink and the intermediate disk are coupled to each other at an interface substantially perpendicular to the surface facing the medium. The interface includes the surface of the intermediate disk and the surface of the heat sink.

18. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to claim 7, further comprising a waveguide, The waveguide is positioned relative to the intermediate disk along the upward magnetic track direction, and The plasmonic disk is coupled to the waveguide.

19. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to claim 18, The plasmonic disk and the waveguide are coupled to each other at an interface substantially perpendicular to the surface facing the medium. The interface includes the surface of the waveguide and the surface of the plasmonic disk.

20. A heat-assisted magnetic recording head, comprising: Plasmon disk; Near-field emitter, comprising: A column, configured to generate a hot spot on the near-end of the disk, is disposed near the media-facing surface of the heat-assisted magnetic recording head; and An anchoring disc is disposed behind the post relative to the surface facing the medium; and The intermediate plate has a melting temperature of at least 1500 degrees Celsius. The plasmonic disk is positioned relative to the intermediate disk along the upward magnetic track direction. The anchoring disk is coupled to the plasmonic disk. The intermediate disk is positioned relative to the near-field transmitter along the downward magnetic track direction and coupled to the anchor disk. The intermediate disk comprises at least one of iridium, ruthenium, rhodium, osmium, platinum, or palladium.

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