Plasmon Generator Adhesion Layer for Thermal Recording
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermal assisted magnetic recording heads suffer from deterioration of recording properties due to agglomeration of the plasmon generator's front end surface, which reduces the capability to heat the magnetic recording medium and leads to a decrease in signal-to-noise ratio, primarily caused by the movement of metal atoms and atomic vacancies under heat and stress.
Innovation Solution
A thermal assisted magnetic recording head is designed with a plasmon generator that includes a dielectric body layer and an adhesion layer composed of IrOx, RuOx, or NiOx between the plasmon generator and the dielectric body, which enhances adhesiveness and suppresses the movement of atomic vacancies, minimizing agglomeration and maintaining effective light collection and near-field light generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If alloy elements (Cu or Fe) are added to gold to improve hardness and suppress agglomeration, then the front end surface stability is improved, but propagation loss of surface plasmon increases causing heat generation
Solution Approach 1:
A thin film layer is introduced as an intermediary between the gold plasmon generator and the surrounding environment. This intermediate layer suppresses agglomeration of the front end surface without requiring alloying elements that would increase propagation loss, thereby maintaining plasmon propagation efficiency while improving structural stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical or chemical state of the plasmon generator surface by forming a thin film layer with specific properties (thickness, composition, or structure). This parameter change enables suppression of atomic vacancy movement and agglomeration without altering the bulk composition of the gold, thus avoiding increased propagation loss.
2Temperature
If the plasmon generator front end surface contacts the magnetic recording medium under impact, then heat and stress increase causing agglomeration, but maintaining contact is necessary for effective heating
Solution Approach 1:
A thin film layer is formed on the front end surface of the plasmon generator before operation to serve as a protective cushion. This pre-applied protective layer absorbs impact stress and prevents direct contact between the soft gold surface and the magnetic recording medium, thereby suppressing agglomeration while allowing controlled thermal coupling for effective heating.
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 solution effectively reduces agglomeration of the plasmon generator, maintaining a stable distance between the plasmon generator and the magnetic recording medium, thereby enhancing the heating capability and preserving the signal-to-noise ratio by improving the adhesiveness and reducing void formation.
Implementation Method 1
The plasmon generator is coupled with portion of a propagation light that propagates in the core in a surface plasmon mode and generates a surface plasmon, allows the surface plasmon to propagate up to a front end surface positioned on an air bearing surface, and generates the NF light on the front end surface
Implementation Method 2
an adhesion layer that is positioned between the plasmon generator and the dielectric body layer; and the adhesion layer is composed of at least one of IrOx, RuOx, NiOx and CoOx
Data Source
AI summary
A thermal assisted magnetic recording head that performs magnetic recording while locally heating a magnetic recording medium includes: a plasmon generator that generates a surface plasmon and that generates near-field light from the surface plasmon on a front end surface positioned on an air bearing surface opposing the magnetic recording medium; a dielectric body layer positioned around the plasmon generator; and an adhesion layer positioned between the plasmon generator and the dielectric body layer. The adhesion layer is made from at least one of IrOx, RuOx, NiOx and CoOx.