Nonmagnetic Liner Thermal Management in EAMR Write Pole
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional energy-assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) transducers face performance degradation and reliability issues, especially at high recording densities, with the near-field transducer (NFT) potentially being destroyed during use.
Innovation Solution
The EAMR transducer incorporates a waveguide, a near-field transducer (NFT) optically coupled with the waveguide, a write pole with a magnetic portion and a nonmagnetic liner, and coils for energizing the write pole. The nonmagnetic liner has higher thermal conductivity than the magnetic portion, improving thermal management and reducing energy absorption, thereby enhancing the transducer's performance and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional EAMR transducer is used, then the transducer can write data to the recording media, but the NFT may be destroyed during use at high recording densities
Solution Approach 1:
A nonmagnetic liner is introduced as an intermediary layer between the magnetic pole and the NFT. This liner has higher thermal conductivity than the magnetic pole material, serving as a thermal conduit to extract heat away from the NFT region, thereby protecting the NFT from thermal damage while maintaining magnetic functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces part of the magnetic pole structure with a nonmagnetic liner that has superior thermal conductivity properties. This substitution transforms the thermal management approach by using a material optimized for heat conduction rather than magnetic properties in the critical heat extraction region.
2Productivity
If the NFT focuses light to heat a small region of the media, then high recording density can be achieved, but the NFT performance degrades and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The nonmagnetic liner acts as a thermal intermediary that extracts excess heat from the highly focused region under the NFT, enabling sustained high-density recording operations without thermal degradation of the NFT performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the thermal conductivity parameter of the pole structure by introducing a nonmagnetic liner with higher thermal conductivity, thereby altering the heat distribution parameters to protect the NFT while maintaining the focused heating capability for high-density recording.
3Power
If the magnetic pole is used to write data, then the pole must be energized by coils, but heat accumulates in the pole and NFT region
Solution Approach 1:
The nonmagnetic liner serves as a thermal intermediary pathway that conducts heat away from the energized pole and NFT region, allowing continuous operation at required power levels without excessive temperature accumulation.
Solution Approach 2:
Heat is extracted from the pole-NFT region through the nonmagnetic liner, which acts as a thermal extraction pathway, removing the harmful thermal byproduct of the energization process while maintaining the required magnetic field generation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration improves thermal management, reduces heat damage to the NFT, stabilizes the fly height, and increases the efficiency of the EAMR head, leading to improved performance and reliability by effectively channeling heat away from the NFT and write pole.
Implementation Method 1
The waveguide is configured to direct the energy from the laser toward the ABS
Implementation Method 2
The NFT is optically coupled with the waveguide and focuses the energy onto a region of the media
Implementation Method 3
The nonmagnetic liner has a liner thermal conductivity greater than the pole thermal conductivity
Data Source
AI summary
An energy assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) transducer coupled with a laser is described. The EAMR transducer has an air-bearing surface (ABS) residing near a media during use. The laser provides energy. The transducer includes a waveguide, a near field transducer (NFT) proximate to the ABS, a write pole and at least one coil. The waveguide directs the energy from the laser toward the ABS. The NFT is optically coupled with the waveguide and focuses the energy onto a region of the media. The write pole writes to the region of the media. The write pole has a magnetic portion and a nonmagnetic liner. The magnetic portion has a plurality of sides and a pole thermal conductivity. The nonmagnetic liner is adjacent to at least the sides of the magnetic portion, and has a liner thermal conductivity greater than the pole thermal conductivity. The coil(s) are for energizing the write pole.