Phase-coherent in-line VCSEL array with slider post-mount for HAMR

Abstract

The present invention relates to a magnetic recording head assembly for a magnetic media drive. The magnetic recording head assembly includes a slider having a medium-facing surface (MFS), a top surface opposite the MFS, a trailing surface adjacent to the top surface, and an optical grating disposed on the trailing surface. A vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) device is attached to the trailing surface of the slider. The VCSEL device is aligned with the optical grating. A magnetic recording head including a waveguide and a near-field transducer (NFT) coupled to the waveguide is disposed on the trailing surface of the slider. The VCSEL device can emit multiple phase-coherent laser beams onto the optical grating. The optical grating can direct the emitted laser beams at approximately 90 degrees relative to the waveguide.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] (CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS) This application claims the benefit of U.S. Non-Provisional Patent Application No. 18 / 230,018, entitled "Phase-Coherent In-Line VCSEL Array with Slider Trailing Mount for HAMR," filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on August 3, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 523,839, filed on June 28, 2023.

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION FIELD Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to magnetic recording heads for magnetic media drives. [Background technology]

[0003] Central to the functionality and capabilities of computers is the storage and writing of data to data storage devices such as magnetic media drives (e.g., hard disk drives (HDDs)). The amount of data processed by computers is rapidly increasing. To improve the functionality and performance of computers, there is a demand for increased recording density in magnetic recording media.

[0004] The recording density of magnetic recording media is 2 Tbit / in 2 To achieve high recording densities exceeding 100 MHz, the width and pitch of the written tracks, and therefore the corresponding width of the magnetically recorded bits encoded in each written track, must be reduced. One of the challenges in reducing the width and pitch of the written tracks is reducing the surface area of ​​the main pole of the magnetic recording write head at the media-facing surface (MFS). A smaller main pole results in a smaller recording field, limiting the effectiveness of the magnetic recording write head.

[0005] Heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) and microwave-assisted magnetic recording (MAMR) are two types of energy-assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) technologies for improving the recording density of magnetic recording media. In HAMR, a laser source is placed next to or near the writing element of a magnetic recording write head to generate heat. For example, the laser source excites a near-field transducer (NFT) to generate heat at the writing location on the magnetic recording medium. The laser source is often placed on top of the slider, adding extra height to the magnetic recording assembly. Therefore, the increased height increases the spacing between disks in the magnetic recording assembly, limiting the amount of disks and negatively impacting the drive capacity.

[0006] Therefore, there is a need in the art for improved HAMR magnetic media drives. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The present invention relates to a magnetic recording head assembly for a magnetic media drive. The magnetic recording head assembly includes a slider having a medium-facing surface (MFS), a top surface opposite the MFS, a trailing surface adjacent to the top surface, and an optical grating disposed on the trailing surface. A vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) device is attached to the trailing surface of the slider. The VCSEL device is aligned with the optical grating. A magnetic recording head is disposed on the trailing surface of the slider, the magnetic recording head including a waveguide and a near-field transducer (NFT) coupled to the waveguide. The VCSEL device can emit phase-coherent laser beams onto the optical grating. The optical grating can direct the emitted laser beams at approximately 90 degrees relative to the waveguide.

[0008] In one embodiment, the magnetic recording head assembly includes a slider including a medium-facing surface, a top surface opposite the medium-facing surface, a trailing surface adjacent to the top surface, a leading surface opposite the trailing surface, and an optical grating disposed on the trailing surface; a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) device coupled to the trailing surface of the slider and disposed on the optical grating; and a magnetic recording head disposed on the trailing surface of the slider.

[0009] In another embodiment, a magnetic recording head assembly includes a slider including a medium-facing surface, a top surface opposite the medium-facing surface, a trailing surface adjacent the top surface, a leading surface opposite the trailing surface, an optical grating disposed on the trailing surface, and a heat sink stud disposed adjacent to the optical grating; a vertical cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) device coupled to the trailing surface of the slider and capable of emitting multiple laser beams that are phase coherent; and a magnetic recording head disposed on the trailing surface of the slider, the magnetic recording head including a waveguide and a near-field transducer (NFT) coupled to the waveguide.

[0010] In yet another embodiment, a magnetic recording head assembly includes: a slider including a medium-facing surface, a top surface opposite the medium-facing surface, a trailing surface adjacent the top surface, a leading surface opposite the trailing surface, an optical grating disposed on the trailing surface, and a heat sink stud disposed adjacent to the optical grating; a vertical cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) device coupled to the trailing surface of the slider, the VCSEL device including: a first contact pad disposed on a front surface of the VCSEL device, the front surface facing the trailing surface of the slider; and a VCSEL array disposed adjacent to the first contact pad, the VCSEL array including a plurality of laser apertures, the VCSEL device capable of emitting a plurality of phase-coherent lasers through the plurality of laser apertures; and a magnetic recording head disposed on the trailing surface of the slider, the magnetic recording head including a waveguide and a near-field transducer (NFT) coupled to the waveguide. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] So that the above-mentioned features of the present disclosure can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the present disclosure briefly summarized above can be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It should be noted, however, that the accompanying drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of the present disclosure and therefore should not be considered as limiting its scope, as the present disclosure may admit of other equally effective embodiments. [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a particular embodiment of a magnetic media drive including a HAMR magnetic write head. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a cross-sectional side view of a HAMR write head facing a magnetic disk. [Figure 3A] 1 illustrates a magnetic recording head assembly according to one embodiment. [Figure 3B] 1 illustrates a magnetic recording head assembly according to one embodiment. [Figure 3C] 1 illustrates a VCSEL device of a magnetic recording head assembly, according to one embodiment. [Figure 3D] 1 illustrates a VCSEL device of a magnetic recording head assembly, according to one embodiment.

[0012] To facilitate understanding, the same reference numbers have been used, whenever possible, to designate identical elements common to the figures. It is contemplated that elements disclosed in one embodiment may be beneficially utilized on other embodiments without specific mention thereof. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Reference will be made below to embodiments of the present disclosure. However, it should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the specifically described embodiments. Instead, any combination of the following features and elements, whether associated with different embodiments or not, is contemplated for implementing and practicing the present disclosure. Furthermore, although embodiments of the present disclosure may achieve advantages over other possible solutions and / or over the prior art, whether or not a particular advantage is achieved by a given embodiment does not limit the present disclosure. Accordingly, the following aspects, features, embodiments, and advantages are merely exemplary and are not considered elements or limitations of the appended claims unless expressly recited in the claims. Similarly, references to "the present disclosure" should not be construed as a generalization of any inventive subject matter disclosed herein, and should not be considered elements or limitations of the appended claims unless expressly recited in the claims.

[0014] The present invention relates to a magnetic recording head assembly for a magnetic media drive. The magnetic recording head assembly includes a slider having a medium-facing surface (MFS), a top surface opposite the MFS, a trailing surface adjacent to the top surface, and an optical grating disposed on the trailing surface. A vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) device is attached to the trailing surface of the slider. The VCSEL device is aligned with the optical grating. A magnetic recording head is disposed on the trailing surface of the slider, the magnetic recording head including a waveguide and a near-field transducer (NFT) coupled to the waveguide. The VCSEL device can emit phase-coherent laser beams onto the optical grating. The optical grating can direct the emitted laser beams at approximately 90 degrees relative to the waveguide.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a particular embodiment of a magnetic media drive 100 including an energy-assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) write head, such as a heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) or microwave-assisted magnetic recording (MAMR) write head. Such a magnetic media drive may be a single drive / device or may include multiple drives / devices. For ease of explanation, a single disk drive 100 according to one embodiment is shown. The disk drive 100 includes at least one rotatable magnetic recording medium 112 (often referred to as a magnetic disk 112) supported on a spindle 114 and rotated by a drive motor 118. The magnetic recording on each magnetic disk 112 is in the form of any suitable pattern of data tracks, such as an annular pattern of concentric data tracks (not shown) on the magnetic disk 112.

[0016] At least one slider 113 is positioned near the magnetic disk 112. Each slider 113 supports a head assembly 121 that includes one or more read heads and one or more write heads, such as a HAMR write head. As the magnetic disk 112 rotates, the slider 113 moves radially in and out above the disk surface 122 so that the head assembly 121 can access different tracks on the magnetic disk 112 where desired data is written. Each slider 113 is attached to an actuator arm 119 by a suspension 115. The suspension 115 provides a slight spring force that urges the slider 113 toward the disk surface 122. Each actuator arm 119 is attached to an actuator 127. The actuator 127, as shown in FIG. 1, can be a voice coil motor (VCM). The VCM includes a coil that is movable within a fixed magnetic field, and the direction and speed of the coil movement are controlled by motor current signals provided by a control unit 129.

[0017] During operation of disk drive 100, the rotation of magnetic disk 112 creates an air bearing between slider 113 and disk surface 122, which exerts an upward force, or lift, on slider 113. The air bearing thus counteracts the slight spring force of suspension 115 and supports slider 113 a small, substantially constant distance away from and slightly above disk surface 122 during normal operation.

[0018] The various components of disk drive 100 are operationally controlled by control signals generated by control unit 129, such as access control signals and internal clock signals. Control unit 129 typically includes logic control circuits, storage means, and a microprocessor. Control unit 129 generates control signals for controlling various system operations, such as drive motor control signals on line 123 and head position and seek control signals on line 128. The control signals on line 128 provide desired current profiles to optimally move and position slider 113 to the desired data track on magnetic disk 112. Write and read signals are communicated to and from head assembly 121 by recording channel 125. Particular embodiments of the magnetic media drive of FIG. 1 may further include multiple media, or disks, multiple actuators, and / or multiple sliders.

[0019] 2 is a schematic diagram of a particular embodiment of a cross-sectional side view of a HAMR write head 230 facing a magnetic disk 112. The HAMR write head 230 may correspond to a portion of the read / recording head assembly 121 described in FIG. 1 or a recording head used in other magnetic media drives. The HAMR write head 230 includes a media facing surface (MFS), such as an air bearing surface (ABS) or a gas bearing surface (GBS), that faces the disk 112. As shown in FIG. 2, the magnetic disk 112 and the HAMR write head 230 move relatively (and should change direction) in the direction indicated by arrow 282.

[0020] The HAMR write head 230 includes a main pole 236 disposed between a front return shield 234 and a rear return shield 238. The main pole 236 may include a main pole tip 237 with an MFS. The main pole tip 237 may or may not include a front taper and / or a rear taper. A coil 260 around the main pole 236 excites the main pole tip 237 to generate a write magnetic field for influencing the magnetic medium of the rotatable magnetic disk 112. The coil 260 may have a spiral structure or one or more sets of pancake structures. The front return shield 234 and / or the rear return shield 238 may act as a return pole for the main pole 236.

[0021] The magnetic disk 112 is positioned adjacent to or underneath the HAMR write head 230. The magnetic field generated by the current in the coil 260 is used to control the magnetization direction of the bits in the magnetic disk 112.

[0022] The HAMR write head 230 includes a structure for heating the magnetic disk 112 proximate to where the main pole tip 237 applies a magnetic write field to the storage medium. A waveguide 242 is positioned between the main pole 236 and the front shield 234. The waveguide 242 may include a core layer and a cladding layer surrounding the core layer. The waveguide 242 conducts light from a source 278 of electromagnetic radiation, which may be, for example, ultraviolet, infrared, or visible light. The light source 278 may be, for example, an edge-emitting laser diode (EELD) or vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) device, a laser diode, or other suitable laser light source for directing a light beam into the waveguide 242.

[0023] Various known techniques can be used to couple the light source 278 to the waveguide 242. For example, the light source 278 can work in combination with optical fibers and external optics to direct a light beam into the waveguide 242. Alternatively, the light source 278 can be attached to the waveguide 242, and the light beam can be directly coupled to the waveguide 242 without the need for external optics. Once the light beam is coupled into the waveguide 242, the light propagates through the waveguide and heats a portion of the media as the media moves relative to the HAMR write head 230, as indicated by arrow 282.

[0024] The HAMR write head 230 may include a near-field transducer (NFT) 284 to concentrate heat near the end of the waveguide 242. The NFT 284 is positioned in or adjacent to the waveguide 242 near or at the MFS. Light from the waveguide 242 is absorbed by the NFT 284, exciting surface plasmons. The surface plasmons travel along the outside of the NFT 284 toward the MFS, concentrating charge at the tip of the NFT 284. The charge then capacitively couples to the magnetic disk 112, heating a precise region of the magnetic disk 112 via Joule heating. One possible NFT 284 for a HAMR write head is a lollipop design, comprising a disk portion and a peg extending between the disk and the MFS. The NFT 284 absorbs heat from the waveguide light, which can adversely affect the reliability of the HAMR write head 230. The surrounding metal is used as a heat sink to minimize temperature.

[0025] Optical power from an external coherent light source (i.e., EELD, surface-emitting diode laser, VCSEL device, or fiber-coupled diode laser) is coupled into the PLC of the HAMR head slider via an SSC or mode converter. The basic design concept is to match the mode profile of the incident light source and the mode profile of the PLC at both the coupling interface, thereby maximizing the overall coupling efficiency.

[0026] While FIG. 2 shows a general configuration of a HAMR recording head, FIGS. 3A-3B show a magnetic recording head assembly 300 in which a VCSEL array is attached to the trailing edge of a slider, according to one embodiment. FIG. 3A shows a view of the trailing surface 302b of the magnetic recording head assembly 300, and FIG. 3B shows a top view of the magnetic recording head assembly 300. FIGS. 3C-3D show the VCSEL device 304 of the magnetic recording head assembly 300, according to one embodiment. FIG. 3C shows the front or output surface 304a (or slider-facing surface) of the VCSEL device 304, and FIG. 3D shows the back surface 304b (or suspension-tab-facing surface) of the VCSEL device 304. The magnetic recording head assembly 300 may be used in combination with the HAMR write head 230 of FIG. 2 and may correspond to part of the read / recording head assembly 121 described in FIG. 1 or a recording head used in other magnetic media drives.

[0027] As the slider 302 and magnetic-recording head 314 move over a rotating medium, such as a disk, one side of the slider 302 leads or passes over the medium, and the opposite side trails or passes over the medium. As used herein, the trailing surface 302b of the slider 302 refers to the side of the slider 302 that last passes over the medium. The magnetic-recording head 314 may incorporate elements of the HAMR head 230 of FIG. 2. However, unlike the light source 278 of FIG. 2, which is attached to the top surface of the slider, FIGS. 3A-3D show the VCSEL device 304 attached to this trailing surface 302b of the slider 302. With further reference to FIG. 3A, the slider 302 comprises a top surface 302a disposed opposite the MFS, a leading surface disposed adjacent to the top surface 302a, a trailing surface 302b disposed opposite the leading surface, and a medium-facing surface disposed opposite the top surface 302a.

[0028] The magnetic recording head assembly 300 includes a slider 302 having a plurality of contact pads 308, such as two to thirty-two contact pads, disposed on a trailing surface 302b of the slider 302 (adjacent to the top surface 302a) for contacting or connecting to a suspension (not shown, which may be the suspension 115 of FIG. 1). The slider 302 is made of, for example, ceramic. The contact pads 308 each have a first width 320 of approximately 25 μm or greater, and the spacing 321 between adjacent contact pads 308 is approximately 32 μm. The aforementioned values ​​are not intended to be limiting and are intended to illustrate exemplary embodiments. Heat sink contact pads or studs 306 are disposed adjacent to the contact pads 308. The heat sink contact pads 306 may have the same width 320 as the contact pads 308 and may be spaced a distance 321 from adjacent contact pads 308. These contact pads provide electrical connection points for the disk drive circuitry to power and control the magnetic recording head on the slider. The contact pads connect to electrical paths routed through the disk drive suspension.

[0029] The optical grating 310 is disposed between the heat sink stud 306 and the contact pad 308. The optical grating 310 may be part of a planar lightwave circuit (PLC). In some embodiments, the optical grating 310 is disposed on the core material of the waveguide 242, such as Ta2O5 or Nb2O5. The recording head 314 is disposed on the trailing surface 302b of the slider 302, as shown in FIG. 3B. The dotted box indicates where the VCSEL device 304 is attached to the slider 302 on the trailing surface 302b, as shown in FIG. 3B. The VCSEL device 304 is disposed on and aligned with the heat sink stud 306 and the grating 310, as described further below. The grating 310 is coupled to the waveguide 242 of the recording head 314, which is coupled to the NFT 284 of the recording head 314. The NFT 284 is disposed in the MFS, as described above in FIG. 2.

[0030] The optical grating 310 directs the light output from the coherent VCSEL array 312 into the waveguide 242. The grating 310 includes a high-index dielectric material with a repeating diffraction pattern that redirects the light from the VCSEL array 312, redirecting or directing the light approximately 90 degrees into the waveguide 242 (i.e., in the -y direction). The grating 310 may be curved and / or blazed (e.g., wedge-shaped) to couple the laser output of the VCSEL array 312 into the tapered waveguide 242. The period of the optical grating 310 corresponds to half the effective wavelength of the light, as is known in the art. The waveguide 242 then directs the light from the grating 310 to the NFT 284 of the MFS.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 3B, the VCSEL device 304 is attached to the trailing surface 302b of the slider 302 via a first electrode on a contact pad 316. The first electrode or contact pad 316 is positioned adjacent to the coherent VCSEL array 312 on the front or recording head-facing surface 304a of the VCSEL device 304, as shown in FIG. 3C. The first contact pad 316 is attached to a heat sink stud 306 to draw heat from the VCSEL array 312 to the ceramic slider 302. The first contact pad 316 may have the same width 320 as the contact pad 308. The heat sink stud 306 is positioned on the magnetic recording head 314 (shown here as a rectangle to represent the various layers of the recording head 314). The VCSEL array 312 aligns with the grating 310 to output light to the grating 310. Waveguide 242 and NFT 284 are not shown in FIG. 3B because they are located below grating 310 in the −y direction (eg, into the page).

[0032] The VCSEL device 304 further includes a second contact pad or electrode 318a and a third contact pad or electrode 318b disposed on the back surface 304b of the VCSEL device 304, as shown in FIG. 3D. The back surface 304b is opposite the front surface 304a of the VCSEL device 304. The second contact pad 318a and the third contact pad 318b, like the plurality of contact pads 308, are respectively connected to the suspension and to the laser diodes of the VCSEL array 312, allowing current to flow through the laser diodes. The second contact pad 318a is also connected to the laser substrate, while the third contact pad 318b is isolated from the laser substrate (or vice versa). Rather, the third contact pad 318b extends through the VCSEL device 304 to connect to the laser diodes of the VCSEL array 312 for exciting the lasers of the VCSEL array 312. The return path for the current is to the laser substrate and to the contact pad 318a. The second and third contact pads 318 a , 318 b may have the same dimensions and spacing as the plurality of contact pads 308 .

[0033] As shown in FIG. 3C, the VCSEL array 312 includes multiple apertures 322 through which multiple lasers are output to the grating 310. The multiple apertures 322 in the VCSEL array 312 are linear. The number of apertures 322 corresponds to the number of lasers in the VCSEL array 312. Although four apertures 322 are shown, the VCSEL array 312 may include any number of apertures 322, such as from two apertures and lasers to thirty-two apertures and lasers. Each aperture 322 has a size of about 1 μm to about 10 μm. Each aperture 322 is spaced from an adjacent aperture 322 by a distance of about 2 μm to about 20 μm in the x-direction. The output laser power per aperture 322 is about 0.5 mW to about 10 mW. The optical output from the VCSEL apertures 322 is coherent and in-phase (e.g., the output light appears as a single beam).

[0034] The laser outputs from the VCSEL array 312 are all in-phase and free of mode hopping, rather than being, for example, 180 degrees out of phase (i.e., 0 degrees out of phase). Furthermore, each of the multiple lasers emitted by the VCSEL array 312 operates at the same frequency and is phase coherent. Each of the multiple lasers has a single-mode output and a defined polarization direction. Each of the multiple lasers has an active region (e.g., a region where the laser excites electrons). These active regions are spaced closely enough to allow coupling and phase coherence to occur.

[0035] By mounting the VCSEL device 304 on the trailing surface 302b of the slider 302, the overall height of the magnetic-recording head assembly 300 is reduced, thus reducing the disk-to-disk spacing, potentially increasing the number of disks, and increasing HDD capacity. Furthermore, when the VCSEL chip is mounted on the top surface of the slider, side electrodes are often utilized to make connections to the suspension. However, the side electrodes or contacts increase the complexity and cost of the VCSEL chip. By mounting the VCSEL device 304 on the trailing surface 302b, electrodes or contact pads 316, 318a, 318b are only required on the back surface 304b and front surface 304a of the VCSEL device 304. Therefore, mounting the VCSEL device 304 on the trailing surface 302b of the slider 302 reduces complexity and cost during manufacturing, while also reducing the height of the magnetic-recording head assembly 300, reducing the disk-to-disk spacing, and increasing the capacity of the magnetic-recording drive.

[0036] VCSELs have many important advantages for use as the light source in HAMR. The edge-emitting laser diodes (EELDs) used are typically mounted on a submount because it is difficult to directly bond the edge-emitting facet of the laser to the top of a slider. This submount is then bonded to the slider. VCSELs can easily have bonding electrodes on their front-emitting surfaces that match corresponding electrodes on the trailing edge of the slider. When used with a grating, light can be output from the trailing edge onto the grating, which then directs the light into the waveguide at a 90-degree angle. These electrodes can be bonded together by laser-assisted solder reflow and can also serve as the electrical connection for energizing the laser.

[0037] The elimination of submounts significantly reduces light source costs. VCSEL laser facets are fabricated using a wafer-level process, further lowering costs compared to EELDs. VCSEL output beams are also larger and more circular than EELDs, improving alignment tolerances and coupling efficiency into the slider spot-size converter. VCSELs are known to be more reliable than EELDs due to their larger, less intense optical modes and wafer facet processing. As a result, VCSELs do not require burn-in during manufacturing, further reducing costs. VCSEL cavity lengths are shorter than EELDs, and the laser is mounted on the trailing edge surface of the slider, resulting in a lower overall height, allowing for closer disk-to-disk spacing and potentially more disks, resulting in increased HDD capacity.

[0038] Furthermore, VCSELs achieve mode-hop-free operation due to their very short cavity length with one longitudinal mode and DBR mirror selectivity, whereas EELDs experience mode hopping. Mode hopping can cause small (typically 1-2%) changes in laser power to suddenly occur during the recording process. This can lead to track width changes and potential bit shifts, reducing HDD capacity.

[0039] The main technical problem with VCSELs is their relatively low output power relative to EELD. While multimode VCSELs can have greater output power than single-mode VCSELs, single-mode operation is required by the waveguides and NFTs used to generate the heat spot within the disk for HAMR. Single-mode VCSELs typically have a maximum output power of only about 2 mW, far from the 10 mW to 20 mW required for HAMR. Due to decoherence between wavefronts, output power cannot be efficiently increased by combining the outputs from multiple separate VCSELs. If the active regions of adjacent VCSELs are very close to each other, the wave functions overlap enough to create coupling and phase coherence between their outputs. With the correct VCSEL design and light delivery scheme, these outputs can be combined into a single waveguide with the necessary 5 mW to 10 mW single-mode power required by NFTs for HAMR.

[0040] In one embodiment, the magnetic recording head assembly includes a slider including a medium-facing surface, a top surface opposite the medium-facing surface, a trailing surface adjacent to the top surface, a leading surface opposite the trailing surface, and an optical grating disposed on the trailing surface; a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) device coupled to the trailing surface of the slider and disposed on the optical grating; and a magnetic recording head disposed on the trailing surface of the slider.

[0041] The VCSEL device can emit multiple phase-coherent lasers. The VCSEL device can emit the multiple lasers onto an optical grating through multiple laser apertures. The output laser power per laser aperture is about 0.5 mW to about 10 mW, and the multiple laser apertures range from 2 apertures to 32 apertures. The magnetic recording head includes a waveguide and a near-field transducer (NFT) coupled to the waveguide, the waveguide extending from the top surface of the magnetic recording head to the NFT, and the NFT is disposed on the medium-facing surface. The optical grating can direct the optical output from the VCSEL device at about 90 degrees to the waveguide. The magnetic media drive includes a magnetic recording head assembly.

[0042] In another embodiment, a magnetic recording head assembly includes a slider including a medium-facing surface, a top surface opposite the medium-facing surface, a trailing surface adjacent the top surface, a leading surface opposite the trailing surface, an optical grating disposed on the trailing surface, and a heat sink stud disposed adjacent to the optical grating; a vertical cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) device coupled to the trailing surface of the slider and capable of emitting multiple laser beams that are phase coherent; and a magnetic recording head disposed on the trailing surface of the slider, the magnetic recording head including a waveguide and a near-field transducer (NFT) coupled to the waveguide.

[0043] The optical grating can direct the optical output from the VCSEL device approximately 90 degrees to the waveguide, and the waveguide can direct the output light to the NFT. The VCSEL device has a front surface facing the trailing surface of the slider and a back surface opposite the front surface, with a first contact pad and a VCSEL array disposed on the front surface and second and third contact pads disposed on the back surface. The first contact pad is connected to a heat sink stud, the VCSEL array is aligned with the optical grating, and the second contact pad is connected to the VCSEL array. The slider further has a plurality of contact pads on the trailing surface, the widths of the contact pads being the same as the widths of the second and third contact pads on the back surface of the VCSEL device. The slider further has a plurality of contact pads, the spacing between at least two of the slider contact pads being substantially equal to the spacing between the second and third contact pads on the back surface of the VCSEL device. The plurality of lasers operate at the same frequency, and the plurality of lasers are output through a plurality of laser apertures, and the plurality of laser apertures are arranged linearly. Each laser aperture has a size of about 1 μm to about 10 μm, an output laser power per laser aperture is about 0.5 mW to about 10 mW, and each laser aperture is spaced apart from an adjacent laser aperture by a distance of about 2 μm to about 20 μm. The magnetic media drive includes a magnetic recording head assembly.

[0044] In yet another embodiment, a magnetic recording head assembly includes: a slider including a medium-facing surface, a top surface opposite the medium-facing surface, a trailing surface adjacent the top surface, a leading surface opposite the trailing surface, an optical grating disposed on the trailing surface, and a heat sink stud disposed adjacent to the optical grating; a vertical cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) device coupled to the trailing surface of the slider, the VCSEL device including: a first contact pad disposed on a front surface of the VCSEL device, the front surface facing the trailing surface of the slider; and a VCSEL array disposed adjacent to the first contact pad, the VCSEL array including a plurality of laser apertures, the VCSEL device capable of emitting a plurality of phase-coherent lasers through the plurality of laser apertures; and a magnetic recording head disposed on the trailing surface of the slider, the magnetic recording head including a waveguide and a near-field transducer (NFT) coupled to the waveguide.

[0045] The first contact pad is connected to the heat sink stud, and the VCSEL array is aligned with the optical grating. The optical grating can direct optical output from the VCSEL device at approximately 90 degrees to the waveguide, and the waveguide can direct the output light to the NFT. The multiple lasers operate at the same frequency, and the output laser power per laser aperture is approximately 0.5 mW to approximately 10 mW. The multiple laser apertures are arranged in a line, and the multiple laser apertures range from 2 apertures to 32 apertures. The magnetic media drive includes a magnetic recording head assembly.

[0046] While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present disclosure, other and further embodiments of the present disclosure may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, which scope is determined by the following claims.

Claims

1. 1. A magnetic recording head assembly comprising: A slider, a medium-facing surface; an upper surface opposite to the medium facing surface; a trailing edge surface adjacent the upper surface; a leading edge surface opposite the trailing edge surface; an optical grating disposed on the trailing surface; a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) device coupled to the trailing surface of the slider, the VCSEL device being disposed above the optical grating; a magnetic recording head disposed on the trailing surface of the slider.

2. The magnetic recording head assembly of claim 1 , wherein the VCSEL device is capable of emitting multiple lasers that are phase coherent.

3. The magnetic recording head assembly of claim 2 , wherein the VCSEL device is capable of emitting the multiple lasers onto the optical grating through multiple laser apertures.

4. 4. The magnetic recording head assembly of claim 3, wherein an output laser power per laser aperture is between about 0.5 mW and about 10 mW, and the plurality of laser apertures is between 2 apertures and 32 apertures.

5. 2. The magnetic recording head assembly of claim 1, wherein the magnetic recording head comprises a waveguide and a near-field transducer (NFT) coupled to the waveguide, the waveguide extending from a top surface of the magnetic recording head to the NFT, and the NFT being disposed on the medium-facing surface.

6. The magnetic recording head assembly of claim 5 , wherein the optical grating is capable of directing the optical output from the VCSEL device at approximately 90 degrees to the waveguide.

7. A magnetic media drive comprising the magnetic recording head assembly of claim 1.

8. 1. A magnetic recording head assembly comprising: A slider, a medium-facing surface; an upper surface opposite to the medium facing surface; a trailing edge surface adjacent the upper surface; a leading edge surface opposite the trailing edge surface; an optical grating disposed on the trailing surface; a heat sink stud disposed adjacent to the optical grating; a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) device coupled to the trailing surface of the slider, the VCSEL device being capable of emitting multiple laser beams that are phase coherent; a magnetic recording head disposed on the trailing surface of the slider, the magnetic recording head comprising a waveguide and a near-field transducer (NFT) coupled to the waveguide.

9. 9. The magnetic recording head assembly of claim 8, wherein the optical grating is capable of directing light output from the VCSEL device at approximately 90 degrees to the waveguide, and the waveguide is capable of directing the output light to the NFT.

10. 9. The magnetic recording head assembly of claim 8, wherein the VCSEL device has a front surface facing the trailing surface of the slider and a back surface opposite the front surface, a first contact pad and a VCSEL array disposed on the front surface, and a second contact pad and a third contact pad disposed on the back surface.

11. 11. The magnetic recording head assembly of claim 10, wherein the first contact pad is connected to the heat sink stud, the VCSEL array is aligned with the optical grating, and the second contact pad is connected to the VCSEL array.

12. 11. The magnetic recording head assembly of claim 10, wherein the slider further comprises a plurality of contact pads on the trailing surface, the width of the contact pads being the same as the width of the second and third contact pads on the back surface of the VCSEL device.

13. 11. The magnetic recording head assembly of claim 10, wherein the slider further comprises a plurality of contact pads, and wherein a spacing between at least two of the slider contact pads is substantially equal to a spacing between the second and third contact pads on the back surface of the VCSEL device.

14. 9. The magnetic recording head assembly of claim 8, wherein the plurality of lasers operate at the same frequency, the plurality of lasers are output through a plurality of laser apertures, and the plurality of laser apertures are arranged in a line.

15. 15. The magnetic recording head assembly of claim 14, wherein each laser aperture has a size of about 1 μm to about 10 μm, an output laser power per laser aperture is about 0.5 mW to about 10 mW, and each laser aperture is spaced apart from an adjacent laser aperture by a distance of about 2 μm to about 20 μm.

16. 10. A magnetic media drive comprising the magnetic recording head assembly of claim 8.

17. 1. A magnetic recording head assembly comprising: A slider, a medium-facing surface; an upper surface opposite to the medium facing surface; a trailing edge surface adjacent the upper surface; a leading edge surface opposite the trailing edge surface; an optical grating disposed on the trailing surface; a heat sink stud disposed adjacent to the optical grating; a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) device coupled to the trailing surface of the slider, the VCSEL device comprising: a first contact pad disposed on a front surface of the VCSEL device, the front surface facing the trailing surface of the slider; a VCSEL device comprising: a VCSEL array disposed adjacent to the first contact pad, the VCSEL array having a plurality of laser apertures, the VCSEL array capable of emitting a plurality of phase-coherent laser beams through the plurality of laser apertures; a magnetic recording head disposed on the trailing surface of the slider, the magnetic recording head comprising a waveguide and a near-field transducer (NFT) coupled to the waveguide.

18. 18. The magnetic recording head assembly of claim 17, wherein the first contact pad is connected to the heat sink stud and the VCSEL array is aligned with the optical grating.

19. 18. The magnetic recording head assembly of claim 17, wherein the optical grating is capable of directing light output from the VCSEL device at approximately 90 degrees to the waveguide, and the waveguide is capable of directing the output light to the NFT.

20. 18. The magnetic recording head assembly of claim 17, wherein the multiple lasers operate at the same frequency and have an output laser power per laser aperture of about 0.5 mW to about 10 mW.

21. 18. The magnetic recording head assembly of claim 17, wherein the plurality of laser apertures are arranged in a line, and the plurality of laser apertures is between 2 and 32 apertures.

22. 20. A magnetic media drive comprising the magnetic recording head assembly of claim 17.

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