Noble Metal Waveguide Blocker Coating for HAMR Thermal Spot Confinement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) technologies face challenges in achieving optimal thermal gradient and area density capacity due to uncoupled optical energy radiating as background radiation, which degrades the thermal spot confinement and magnetic recording performance.
Innovation Solution
A noble metal coating is applied on a parabolic waveguide blocker in the near field transducer (NFT) to enhance plasmonic effects, directing uncoupled light away from the recording medium and improving thermal gradient confinement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional waveguide blocker is used without noble metal coating, then the structure is simpler and manufacturing is easier, but the thermal spot confinement is degraded due to uncoupled optical energy radiating as background radiation
Solution Approach 1:
The waveguide blocker is coated with a noble metal layer (such as gold, rhodium, or iridium) to create a composite structure that leverages the plasmonic properties of the noble metal to suppress background radiation and improve thermal spot confinement, while maintaining the functional geometry of the blocker
Solution Approach 2:
The noble metal coating is applied specifically to the surface of the waveguide blocker where it interacts with optical energy, providing localized plasmonic enhancement to suppress background radiation without affecting the overall structural integrity or requiring modification of the entire device
2Productivity
If a noble metal coating is applied on the waveguide blocker, then thermal gradient and area density capacity are improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The thickness of the noble metal coating is optimized to a specific range (5-50 nm) to achieve the desired plasmonic effect for suppressing background radiation and improving thermal gradient, while minimizing additional manufacturing complexity and cost
3Reliability
If uncoupled optical energy is allowed to radiate, then the structure remains simpler, but background radiation degrades thermal gradient and magnetic recording performance
Solution Approach 1:
The noble metal coating converts the harmful uncoupled optical energy that would otherwise radiate as background radiation into beneficial surface plasmon modes that are confined to the blocker surface, thereby suppressing background radiation and improving thermal gradient and magnetic recording performance
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 noble metal coating enhances thermal spot confinement, leading to improved thermal gradient and increased area density capacity of the HAMR head by suppressing background radiation and optimizing the thermal gradient.
Implementation Method 1
a noble metal coating (e.g., Au, Rh, Ir, Pt, Aluminum (Al), and their alloy such as AuIr, RhIr, etc.) which can enable a plasmonic effect on the PWB surface for HAMR thermal gradient improvement
Data Source
AI summary
The present embodiments relate to a noble metal coating on a parabolic waveguide blocker surface to future improve thermal gradient for HAMR head which can provide an improved thermal spot confinement over other designs. More particularly, the present embodiments relate to a component in the near field transducer (NFT), made of a metallic parabolic shaped waveguide blocker (PWB) with noble metal coating on the PWB surface. The designs as described herein can include a noble metal coating (e.g., Au, Rh, Ir, Pt, Aluminum (Al), etc.) which can enable a plasmonic effect on the PWB surface for HAMR thermal gradient improvement.