Heat-assisted magnetic recording head with heat sink and diffusion barrier

Abstract

This application discloses a heat-assisted magnetic recording head having a heat sink and a diffusion barrier. A heat-assisted magnetic recording head includes a near-field transducer, a heat sink, a diffuser, and a diffusion barrier. The near-field transducer is configured to generate hot spots on a proximal disk. The heat sink is configured to absorb heat from the near-field transducer. The heat sink is disposed relative to the near-field transducer in a para-track direction and coupled to the near-field transducer. The diffuser is configured to absorb heat from the heat sink. The diffuser is disposed relative to the heat sink in a para-track direction. The diffusion barrier comprises metal. The diffusion barrier is disposed between the heat sink and the diffuser and coupled to both the heat sink and the diffuser.

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 record head of an HAMR HDD typically includes a laser, a near-field transducer (NFT) configured to briefly heat small hot spots on the HDD's disk surface, 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 heat sink disposed between a near-field transducer (NFT) and a diffuser. The heat sink is used to draw heat away from the NFT. The diffuser is used to draw heat away from the heat sink and dissipate the heat towards other areas of the associated structure (e.g., the heat sink of an associated slider). A diffusion barrier is disposed between and coupled to the heat sink and the diffuser. In some examples, the diffusion barrier prevents metal from diffusing away from the heat sink and / or the diffuser under thermal stress, such as thermal stress introduced during operation of the HAMR head. By preventing metal from diffusing away from the heat sink and / or the diffuser, the diffusion barrier can reduce the formation of defects such as voids and can extend the service life of the HAMR head.

[0004] In one example, a HAMR head includes: an NFT configured to generate a hotspot on a proximal disk; a heat sink configured to absorb heat from the NFT, wherein the heat sink is disposed in a down-track direction relative to the NFT and coupled to the NFT; a diffuser configured to absorb heat from the heat sink, wherein the diffuser is disposed in a down-track direction relative to the heat sink; and a diffusion barrier comprising metal and disposed between the heat sink and the diffuser and coupled to the heat sink and the diffuser.

[0005] 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

[0006] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of an example hard disk drive according to various aspects of this disclosure.

[0007] Figure 2This is a perspective view of an example slider based on several aspects of this disclosure.

[0008] Figure 3A This is a cross-sectional view of an example HAMR head based on various aspects of this disclosure.

[0009] Figure 3B This is a cross-sectional view of an example HAMR head based on various aspects of this disclosure.

[0010] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional perspective view of an example HAMR head based on various aspects of this disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0011] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of an example heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) hard disk drive (HDD) according to several aspects of this disclosure. HDD 100 includes a head stack assembly (HSA) 110 and one or more disks 108. HSA 110 includes multiple head gimbal assemblies (HGA) 120. Each HGA 120 includes a slider 122. Figure 1 The HSA 110 includes a voice coil driven actuator 112. The voice coil driven actuator 112 generates a magnetic field that applies a force to the actuator mechanism 114, causing the actuator mechanism 114 to rotate about axis 116 in one of two rotational directions. A rotatable driven actuator arm 118 is mechanically coupled to the actuator mechanism 114 and each HGA 120, such that rotating the actuator mechanism 114 causes the rotatable driven actuator arm 118 and the HGA 120, and thus the slider 122, to move relative to the disk 108.

[0012] Figure 2 This is a perspective view of an example slider 222 according to various aspects of this disclosure. Slider 222 is Figure 1 Example of slider 122. In Figure 2 In the example, slider 222 includes slider body 224, laser 226, base 228 and HAMR head 240.

[0013] 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. Figure 2In some examples, during certain operations of the HDD (e.g., write operations, read operations), some features or partial features of the NFT 250, writer 260, and reader 270 are presented on a media-facing surface 205 located above the disk surface. In some examples, the media-facing surface 205 is an air-bearing surface (ABS) configured to maintain the magnetic recording head 240 at a target distance (e.g., head-media spacing) from the disk surface during certain 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 called Active Air Bearing (AAB), which is generated by a dynamic flow of gas through a recessed sub-surface pattern confined within a slider 224 by the media-facing surface 205.

[0014] In some examples, laser 226 emits photons with wavelengths in the near-infrared range (e.g., approximately 830 nm) or the visible range. Examples of laser 226 include optically pumped semiconductor lasers, quantum well lasers, integrated lasers, or other suitable lasers. This example laser 226 can be configured as an edge-emitting laser (EEL), a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL), or other types of lasers. Other example HAMR heads may include other types of light sources, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and surface-emitting diodes.

[0015] In one example, laser 226 is coupled to slider 224 via base 228. Figure 2 In some examples, laser 226 and base 228 are located on the surface of slider 224 opposite to the medium-facing surface 205. In some examples, laser 226 may be directly mounted to slider 224. In some examples, laser 226 may be integrated into slider body 224 (e.g., during the manufacture of slider 222 via a transfer process). Base 228 may be configured to redirect photons output from laser 226, such that the photons... Figure 2 The photons are guided into waveguide 230 in the negative y-direction (e.g., towards 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 slider 224 and is configured to deliver photons from laser 226 to NFT 250. Although Figure 2 The image shows laser 226 coupled to slider 224 via base 228, but in some examples, laser 226 may be mounted directly onto slider 224.

[0016] 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 disk (e.g., Figure 1 The surface of the disk (108) is used to generate hot spots. The 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. 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 the writer 260. Turning off the laser 226 or moving the NFT 250 toward different positions on the disk (or moving the disk so that the NFT 250 faces different positions on the disk) eliminates the accumulated near-field energy from the hot spots. Eliminating the near-field energy allows the magnetic particles contained in the hot spots to cool. Cooling locks the particle orientation induced by the magnetic field generated by the writer 260, thereby preserving the bits of written data.

[0017] Figure 3A This is a cross-sectional view of an example HAMR head according to various aspects of this disclosure. The HAMR head 340 includes a waveguide 330, an NFT 350, a write electrode 362, a heat sink 355, a diffuser 336, and a diffusion barrier 337. Figure 3A The example HAMR header 340 contains a write polar diffusion barrier 363.

[0018] Waveguide 330 guides light from a source (e.g., Figure 2 Photons from the laser 226 are directed toward the NFT 350. In some examples, the waveguide 330 comprises multiple optical layers. For example, the waveguide 330 may comprise a waveguide core 332 and a core-to-NFT spacer (CNS) layer 334. The CNS layer 334 may be part of a cladding structure that also comprises a rear cladding layer 331 and / or a front cladding layer 333. In some examples, the waveguide core 332 comprises a dielectric material (e.g., niobium oxide, tantalum oxide), and the CNS layer 334 comprises another different dielectric material (e.g., aluminum oxide, silicon dioxide). In one example, the refractive index of the waveguide core 332 is different from the refractive index of the CNS layer 334.

[0019] The NFT 350 is positioned relative to and coupled to the waveguide 330 in the paramagnetic track direction. The NFT 350 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. Examples of plasmonic metals include gold, silver, ruthenium, copper, aluminum, and rhodium. The NFT 350 may comprise an alloy containing the plasmonic metal. In some examples, the NFT 350 comprises both a plasmonic metal and a noble metal (e.g., palladium, osmium, iridium, or platinum).

[0020] The NFT 350 may include a stud 352 configured to amplify and emit a near field 394 to generate a hot spot 387 on the disk 308. The stud 352A is disposed near the media-facing surface 305 of the HAMR head 340. In some cases, one or more portions of the stud 352 are exposed on the media-facing surface 305.

[0021] The write electrode 362 is positioned in the paramagnetic track direction relative to the waveguide 330 and NFT 350. The write electrode 362 is configured to generate a magnetic field in response to current flowing through the writer coil of the HAMR head 340. The near field 394 and the magnetic field from the write electrode 362 are directed to partially coincide on a hot spot 387 on the disk 308, such that the temperature rise caused by the near field 394 reduces the magnetic coercivity of the die within the hot spot 387, and allows the magnetic field from the write electrode 362 to more easily orient the magnetic moment of the die, resulting in more stable write data bits upon cooling.

[0022] Heat sink 355 is positioned relative to NFT 350 in the paramagnetic track direction and coupled to NFT 350. Heat sink 355 is configured to draw heat away from NFT 350. In some examples, drawing heat away from areas of NFT 350 that are prone to thermal degradation can reduce defect formation in NFT 350 and / or extend the operational life of HAMR head 340.

[0023] Heat sink 355 may comprise one or more thermally conductive metals, thermally stable metals, and / or noble metals. Examples of thermally conductive metals include metals having a thermal conductivity of at least 100 W / mK, or at least 300 W / mK in some examples, such as gold or copper. Examples of thermally stable metals include metals having a high melting temperature, such as a melting temperature of at least 1500°C. In some examples, thermally stable metals have a melting temperature of at least 1800°C. In some examples, thermally stable metals have a melting temperature of at least 2200°C. Examples of thermally stable metals include rhodium, tungsten, tantalum, iridium, platinum, ruthenium, or iron. In some examples, heat sink 355 comprises a noble metal, which is also a thermally stable metal (e.g., a platinum group metal comprising platinum, iridium, rhodium, ruthenium, osmium, or palladium).

[0024] Thermally conductive metal, thermally stable metal, and / or noble metal may be the primary metal of the heat sink 355. As used herein, a “primary metal” of a feature is a metal that constitutes a higher atomic percentage of the feature compared to any other metal also present in the feature. In some examples, the primary metal of a feature constitutes the majority of the feature. For example, the primary metal of the heat sink 355 may constitute more than 50 atomic percentages of the heat sink 355.

[0025] The diffuser 336 is positioned relative to the heat sink 355 in the paramagnetic track direction. The diffuser 336 is configured to draw heat away from the heat sink 355 and direct heat towards other areas of the associated slider (e.g., towards...). Figure 2 The diffuser 336 dissipates heat (other heat sinks of slider 222). The diffuser 336 comprises one or more metals. In some examples, the diffuser 336 comprises a thermally conductive metal, a thermally stable metal, and / or a noble metal. In some examples, the diffuser 336 comprises a noble metal that is also a thermally stable metal. The thermally conductive, thermally stable, and / or noble metal may be the primary metal of the diffuser 336.

[0026] A write electrode diffusion barrier 363 is disposed along the up-track surface 382U of the write electrode 362. The write electrode diffusion barrier 363 includes a section disposed between and coupled to the heatsink 355 and the write electrode 362. The write electrode diffusion barrier 363 also includes a section disposed between and coupled to the diffusion barrier 337 and the write electrode 362. Furthermore, the write electrode diffusion barrier 363 includes a section disposed between and coupled to the diffuser 336 and the write electrode 362. The write electrode diffusion barrier 363 is configured to prevent metal from diffusing from features of the HAMR head 340 (e.g., NFT 350, heatsink 355) to the write electrode 362. The write electrode diffusion barrier 363 may contain plasmonic metals and / or noble metals.

[0027] According to various aspects of this disclosure, the HAMR head 340 includes a diffusion barrier 337 configured to prevent the diffusion of metal from the heat sink 355. The diffusion barrier 337 is disposed between and coupled to the heat sink 355 and the diffuser 336. In some examples, including the diffusion barrier 337 between the heat sink 355 and the diffuser 336 reduces the diffusion of metal from the heat sink 355 and / or the diffuser 336 away from the corresponding feature (e.g., gold diffusion). Reducing metal diffusion away from the heat sink 355 and / or the diffuser 336 reduces the formation of defects such as voids, which preserves the integrity and function of the heat sink 355 and / or the diffuser 336. Preserving the heat sink 355 and / or the diffuser 336 extends the operational life of the HAMR head 340.

[0028] The diffusion barrier 337 may comprise a thermally robust metal, a thermally conductive metal, and / or a noble metal. The thermally robust metal of the diffusion barrier 337 may have a melting temperature of at least 1500°C, and in some examples, at least 1800°C or at least 2200°C. Examples of thermally robust metals that may be included in the diffusion barrier 337 are iridium, rhodium, ruthenium, osmium, rhenium, tungsten, molybdenum, niobium, tantalum, platinum, palladium, chromium, vanadium, titanium, zirconium, or hafnium. The thermally conductive metal of the diffusion barrier 337 may have a thermal conductivity of at least 50 W / mK (e.g., rhodium, tungsten, molybdenum, niobium, tantalum, or chromium). The use of a thermally robust metal in the diffusion barrier 337 can reduce the formation of oxidation and / or defects (e.g., porosity, interfacial delamination) under thermal exposure. The use of a thermally conductive metal in the diffusion barrier 337 can promote heat dissipation from the heat sink 355 to the diffuser 336, potentially reducing defect formation in the heat sink 355 and extending the service life of the HAMR head 340. Using a noble metal (e.g., a platinum group metal) in diffusion barrier 337 can reduce oxidation and related defects (e.g., interface defects) at high temperatures, and in some examples, can reduce the diffusion of metal (e.g., from heat sink 355) into diffuser 336.

[0029] In some examples, the diffusion barrier 337 comprises a thermally robust platinum group metal (e.g., iridium, rhodium, ruthenium, osmium) having a melting temperature of at least 1800°C and a thermal conductivity of at least 80 W / mK. In one example, the diffusion barrier 337 comprises a thermally robust platinum group metal having a melting temperature of at least 1800°C and a thermal conductivity of at least 140 W / mK (e.g., iridium, rhodium). In one example, the diffusion barrier 337 comprises a thermally robust platinum group metal having a melting temperature of at least 2200°C and a thermal conductivity of at least 110 W / mK (e.g., iridium, ruthenium). In one example, the diffusion barrier 337 comprises a thermally robust platinum group metal having a melting temperature of at least 2200°C and a thermal conductivity of at least 140 W / mK (e.g., iridium).

[0030] A thermally stable metal, a thermally conductive metal, and / or a noble metal may be the primary metal of the diffusion barrier 337. The primary metal of the diffusion barrier 337 may differ from the primary metal of the heat sink 355. The primary metal of the diffusion barrier 337 may differ from the primary metal constituting the majority of the diffuser 336. In some examples, the primary metal of the diffusion barrier 337 constitutes at least 50 atomic percent of the diffusion barrier 337. In some examples, the primary metal of the diffusion barrier 337 constitutes at least 90 atomic percent of the diffusion barrier 337. In some examples, the primary metal of the diffusion barrier 337 constitutes at least 95 atomic percent of the diffusion barrier 337. In some examples, the primary metal of the diffusion barrier 337 constitutes at least 99 atomic percent of the diffusion barrier 337.

[0031] Figure 3BThis is a cross-sectional view of an example HAMR head based on various aspects of this disclosure. Figure 3B yes Figure 3A A magnified view of the HAMR head 340, in which Figure 3B The portion of the HAMR head 340 shown is composed of Figure 3A The box marked 3B indicates this.

[0032] The diffusion barrier 337 has a thickness t. In some examples, the thickness t of the diffusion barrier 337 is between about 2 nanometers and about 20 nanometers. In one example, the thickness t of the diffusion barrier 337 is between about 5 nanometers and about 15 nanometers.

[0033] Diffusion barrier 337 includes a medium-facing surface 387 recessed from the medium-facing surface 305 of HAMR head 340 by a distance d1. M The diffuser 336 includes a medium-facing surface 386 recessed from the medium-facing surface 305 by a distance d2. M In some examples, distance d2 is approximately the same as distance d1 (e.g., within + / - 10%). Figure 3B In the example, the segment written into the polar diffusion barrier 363 runs along the surface 387 facing the medium. M and the surface facing the medium 386 M The diffuser 336 is positioned and coupled to the medium-facing surface. Surface 383 M Coupled to the medium-facing surface 387 M and the surface facing the medium 386 M Surface facing the medium 387 M Surface facing the medium 386 M and surface 383 M The surface 305 facing the medium can be substantially parallel to the HAMR head 340.

[0034] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional perspective view of an example HAMR head based on various aspects of this disclosure. Figure 4 yes Figure 3A A cross-sectional perspective view of the HAMR head 340, in which Figure 3A The view of the portion of the HAMR head 340 shown is by Figure 4 The arrow-oriented line 3A-3A indicates the direction. The HAMR head 340 includes an NFT 350, a write electrode 362, a heatsink 355, a diffuser 336, and a diffusion barrier 337. The HAMR head 340 may include a write electrode diffusion barrier 363. The NFT 350 may include a pin 352.

[0035] The diffusion barrier 337 includes a paramagnetic track surface 385 that is substantially parallel to and coupled to the heat sink 355. D387 reverse magnetic track surface U The paramagnetic track surface 385 of the 355 heatsink. D The surface 305, away from the medium, is inclined toward the paramagnetic track direction of the HAMR head 340. The diffusion barrier 337 is also included on the antimagnetic track surface 387. U The paramagnetic track surface 387 is in the direction of the paramagnetic track and is generally parallel to the surface of the antimagnetic track. D The paramagnetic track surface 387 of the diffusion barrier 337 D and reverse magnetic track surface 387 U Terminated at the medium-facing surface 387 of the diffusion barrier 337 M The diffuser 336 includes a paramagnetic track surface 387 that is substantially parallel to and coupled to the diffusion barrier 337. D 386 reverse magnetic track surface U The diffuser 336 is contained in the reverse magnetic track surface 386 of the diffuser 336. U The paramagnetic track surface 386 is in the direction of the paramagnetic track and is substantially parallel to the surface of the antimagnetic track. D The paramagnetic track surface 386 of diffuser 336 D and reverse magnetic track surface 386 U Terminating at the medium-facing surface 386 of diffuser 336 M Location. Paramagnetic track surface 386 D Another feature that can be coupled to the HAMR head 340 (e.g., Figure 3A The write-in diffusion barrier 363).

[0036] Various examples have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. These and other examples are within the scope of the appended claims.

[0037] Further examples:

[0038] Example 1. A heat-assisted magnetic recording head comprising: a near-field transducer configured to generate a hot spot on a proximal disk; a heat sink configured to absorb heat from the near-field transducer, wherein the heat sink is disposed in a paramagnetic track direction relative to the near-field transducer and coupled to the near-field transducer; a diffuser configured to absorb heat from the heat sink, wherein the diffuser is disposed in a paramagnetic track direction relative to the heat sink; and a diffusion barrier comprising metal and disposed between the heat sink and the diffuser and coupled to the heat sink and the diffuser.

[0039] Example 2. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to Example 1, wherein the metal is a thermally robust metal having a melting temperature of at least 1500 degrees Celsius.

[0040] Example 3. A heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to Example 1, wherein the metal has a thermal conductivity of at least 50 mega Kelvin per meter.

[0041] Example 4. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to Example 1, wherein the metal is a noble metal.

[0042] Example 5. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to Example 4, wherein the noble metal is a platinum group metal.

[0043] Example 6. A heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to Example 5, wherein the metal is a thermally robust platinum group noble metal having a melting temperature of at least 1800 degrees Celsius and a thermal conductivity of at least 80 watts per meter Kelvin.

[0044] Example 7. A heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to Example 6, wherein the metal is a thermally robust platinum group noble metal having a melting temperature of at least 2200 degrees Celsius and a thermal conductivity of at least 110 watts per meter Kelvin.

[0045] Example 8. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to Example 1, wherein the metal includes iridium, rhodium, ruthenium, osmium, rhenium, tungsten, molybdenum, niobium, tantalum, platinum, palladium, chromium, vanadium, titanium, zirconium, or hafnium.

[0046] Example 9. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to Example 1, wherein the metal is the primary metal of the diffusion barrier.

[0047] Example 10. A heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to Example 9, wherein the main metal of the diffusion barrier is different from the main metal of the heat sink.

[0048] Example 11. A heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to Example 9, wherein the main metal of the diffusion barrier is different from the main metal of the diffuser.

[0049] Example 12. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to Example 1, wherein the thickness of the diffusion barrier is between about 2 nanometers and about 20 nanometers.

[0050] Example 13. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to Example 1, wherein the diffusion barrier includes a contramagnetic track surface that is substantially parallel to and coupled to the paramagnetic track surface of the heat sink.

[0051] Example 14. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to Example 13, wherein the paramagnetic track surface of the heat sink is inclined away from the medium-facing surface of the magnetic recording head toward the paramagnetic track direction of the heat-assisted magnetic recording head.

[0052] Example 15. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to Example 13,

[0053] The diffusion barrier further includes a paramagnetic track surface that is in the paramagnetic track direction and substantially parallel to the antimagnetic track surface of the diffusion barrier.

[0054] The diffuser includes a contramagnetic track surface that is substantially parallel to and coupled to the paramagnetic track surface of the diffusion barrier.

[0055] Example 16. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to Example 15,

[0056] The paramagnetic track surface and the dimagnetic track surface of the diffusion barrier terminate at the medium-facing surface of the diffusion barrier, and

[0057] The medium-facing surface of the diffusion barrier is recessed from the medium-facing surface of the heat-assisted magnetic recording head by a certain distance.

[0058] Example 17. A heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to Example 16, wherein the distance is a first distance, wherein the diffuser includes a paramagnetic track surface in the direction of the demagnetic track surface of the diffuser and substantially parallel to the demagnetic track surface, wherein the paramagnetic track surface of the diffuser and the demagnetic track surface of the diffuser terminate at the medium-facing surface of the diffuser, and wherein the medium-facing surface of the diffuser is recessed from the medium-facing surface of the heat-assisted magnetic recording head by a second distance.

[0059] Example 18. A heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to Example 17, wherein the second distance is approximately the same as the first distance.

[0060] Example 19. A heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to Example 1, further comprising a write pole configured to generate a magnetic field in response to a current passing through a write coil of the heat-assisted magnetic recording head, the write pole being disposed in a paramagnetic track direction relative to the near-field transducer.

[0061] Example 20. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to Example 19, further comprising a write pole diffusion barrier disposed along the surface of the reverse track of the write pole.

Claims

1. A heat-assisted magnetic recording head, comprising: Near-field transducers are configured to generate hotspots on nearby disks. A heat sink configured to draw heat away from the near-field transducer, wherein the heat sink is disposed relative to the near-field transducer in a paramagnetic track direction and coupled to the near-field transducer. A diffuser configured to draw heat away from the heat sink, wherein the diffuser is positioned relative to the heat sink in a paramagnetic track direction; A diffusion barrier comprising metal and disposed between the heat sink and the diffuser and coupled to the heat sink and the diffuser; as well as A write electrode diffusion barrier is disposed along the reverse magnetic track surface of the write electrode, wherein the write electrode diffusion barrier includes a section disposed between the heat sink and the write electrode, a section disposed between the diffusion barrier and the write electrode, and a section disposed between the diffuser and the write electrode.

2. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to claim 1, wherein the metal is a thermally robust metal having a melting temperature of at least 1500 degrees Celsius.

3. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to claim 1, wherein the metal has a thermal conductivity of at least 50 mega Kelvin per meter.

4. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to claim 1, wherein the metal is a noble metal.

5. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to claim 4, wherein the noble metal is a platinum group metal.

6. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head of claim 5, wherein the metal is a thermally robust platinum group noble metal having a melting temperature of at least 1800 degrees Celsius and a thermal conductivity of at least 80 watts per meter Kelvin.

7. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head of claim 6, wherein the metal is a thermally robust platinum group noble metal having a melting temperature of at least 2200 degrees Celsius and a thermal conductivity of at least 110 watts per meter Kelvin.

8. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to claim 1, wherein the metal comprises iridium, rhodium, ruthenium, osmium, rhenium, tungsten, molybdenum, niobium, tantalum, platinum, palladium, chromium, vanadium, titanium, zirconium, or hafnium.

9. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to claim 1, wherein the metal is the primary metal of the diffusion barrier.

10. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head of claim 9, wherein the primary metal of the diffusion barrier is different from the primary metal of the heat sink.

11. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head of claim 9, wherein the primary metal of the diffusion barrier is different from the primary metal of the diffuser.

12. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head of claim 1, wherein the thickness of the diffusion barrier is between about 2 nanometers and about 20 nanometers.

13. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head of claim 1, wherein the diffusion barrier comprises a contramagnetic track surface that is substantially parallel to and coupled to the paramagnetic track surface of the heat sink.

14. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head of claim 13, wherein the paramagnetic track surface of the heat sink, away from the medium-facing surface of the magnetic recording head, is inclined toward the paramagnetic track direction of the heat-assisted magnetic recording head.

15. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to claim 13, The diffusion barrier further includes a paramagnetic track surface that is in the paramagnetic track direction and substantially parallel to the antimagnetic track surface of the diffusion barrier. The diffuser includes a contramagnetic track surface that is substantially parallel to and coupled to the paramagnetic track surface of the diffusion barrier.

16. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to claim 15, The paramagnetic track surface and the dimagnetic track surface of the diffusion barrier terminate at the medium-facing surface of the diffusion barrier, and The medium-facing surface of the diffusion barrier is recessed from the medium-facing surface of the heat-assisted magnetic recording head by a certain distance.

17. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head according to claim 16, The distance mentioned therein is the first distance. The diffuser includes a paramagnetic track surface that is substantially parallel to and follows the paramagnetic track direction on the surface of the diamagnetic track. The paramagnetic track surface and the antimagnetic track surface of the diffuser terminate at the medium-facing surface of the diffuser, and The medium-facing surface of the diffuser is recessed a second distance from the medium-facing surface of the heat-assisted magnetic recording head.

18. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head of claim 17, wherein the second distance is substantially the same as the first distance.

19. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head of claim 1, further comprising a write pole configured to generate a magnetic field in response to a current passing through a write coil of the heat-assisted magnetic recording head, the write pole being disposed in a paramagnetic track direction relative to the near-field transducer.

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