Multilayer Heat Sink for Plasmon Generator Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Thermally-assisted magnetic recording heads face reliability issues due to temperature rise in the plasmon generator, leading to deformation or breakage, which affects the heat sink's ability to dissipate heat effectively and read/write operations.
Innovation Solution
A thermally-assisted magnetic recording head with a multilayer heat sink structure, comprising a first metal layer, a second metal layer, and an intermediate layer with higher Vickers hardness, interposed between them, to prevent deformation and breakage by effectively dissipating heat from the plasmon generator.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a heat sink is provided to dissipate heat from the plasmon generator, then the temperature rise of the plasmon generator is suppressed, but the heat sink may deform or break due to temperature rise
Solution Approach 1:
The heat sink is constructed as a composite structure with a soft metal layer (Au) for heat dissipation and a hard metal layer (Ru) for mechanical strength. The soft metal layer has higher thermal conductivity to effectively dissipate heat from the plasmon generator, while the hard metal layer provides structural support to prevent deformation and breakage under temperature rise, resolving the contradiction between heat dissipation performance and reliability.
2Loss of energy
If the heat sink is formed of soft metal material for high thermal conductivity, then heat dissipation performance is improved, but the heat sink deforms or breaks under temperature rise
Solution Approach 1:
The heat sink combines a soft metal layer (Au) with high thermal conductivity for effective heat dissipation with a hard metal layer (Ru) for mechanical strength. The soft metal layer conducts heat away from the plasmon generator, while the hard metal layer prevents deformation and breakage, achieving both good heat dissipation performance and mechanical strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat sink is divided into two functional layers: a soft metal layer for heat conduction and a hard metal layer for mechanical support. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function optimally without compromising the other, with the soft layer handling thermal management and the hard layer providing structural integrity.
3Temperature
If the medium facing surface protrudes toward the recording medium due to expansion, then the heat sink dissipates heat, but the read head unit cannot read servo signals
Solution Approach 1:
The heat sink uses a composite structure where the hard metal layer maintains the dimensional stability of the medium facing surface while the soft metal layer dissipates heat. This prevents protrusion of the surface toward the recording medium, ensuring that the read head unit can properly read servo signals during write operations.
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
The multilayer heat sink structure enhances mechanical strength and prevents temperature-induced deformation or breakage, ensuring reliable operation and maintaining the heat sink's performance, thus suppressing the temperature rise of the plasmon generator and preventing protrusion towards the recording medium.
Implementation Method 1
The plasmon generator is configured to excite a surface plasmon based on the light propagating through the core
Implementation Method 2
a heat sink facilitating dissipation of heat from the plasmon generator
Data Source
AI summary
A thermally-assisted magnetic recording head includes a main pole, a waveguide, a plasmon generator, and a heat sink. The heat sink includes a first metal layer, a second metal layer, and an intermediate layer. The intermediate layer is interposed between the first metal layer and the second metal layer. Each of the first and second metal layers is formed of a metal material. The intermediate layer is formed of a material that is higher in Vickers hardness than the metal material used to form the first metal layer and the metal material used to form the second metal layer.