Au Alloy Plasmon Generator for Heat Dissipation and Optical Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current plasmon-generators in thermally-assisted magnetic recording heads face challenges in achieving thermostability, optical characteristics, process stability, and effective heat dissipation while minimizing heat generation and deformation, particularly due to limitations in materials like Au, Ag, Cu, and Al, which suffer from corrosion, oxidation, and poor heat resistance.
Innovation Solution
A plasmon-generator configuration comprising a first configuration member with Au as the primary component and additional elements such as Co, Fe, Sb, Nb, Zr, Ti, or Ta within specific content percentages, integrated with a second configuration member of pure Au, optimized to reduce heat generation and enhance thermostability, is proposed. This configuration includes a surface plasmon mode coupling portion, a propagation part, and a near-field light generating end surface, with the first configuration member forming the near-field light generating end surface and the second member acting as a heat sink to dissipate heat.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pure Au is used for the plasmon-generator, then optical characteristics are improved, but heat dissipation performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a composite structure consisting of a first configuration member (Au-based alloy with elements like Co, Fe, Sb, Nb, Zr, Ti, or Ta) and a second configuration member (pure Au). The first member provides heat dissipation and thermostability, while the second member provides optical characteristics for plasmon generation. This composite approach resolves the contradiction between heat dissipation and optical performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies different material properties to different parts of the plasmon-generator. The first configuration member (with heat dissipation elements) is positioned where heat generation occurs, while the second configuration member (pure Au) is positioned where optical characteristics are most needed. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between heat management and optical performance.
2Stability of the object's composition
If additional elements are added to improve thermostability, then heat resistance is improved, but plasmon loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention confines the heat dissipation elements (Co, Fe, Sb, Nb, Zr, Ti, or Ta) to the first configuration member, while keeping the second configuration member as pure Au. This localized placement ensures that thermostability is improved where needed without compromising the plasmon generation efficiency in the pure Au region.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite structure allows the Au-based alloy (first member) to provide thermostability while the pure Au (second member) maintains low plasmon loss. The synergistic combination resolves the contradiction between heat resistance and energy loss.
3Temperature
If Ag, Cu, or Al are used for heat dissipation, then heat resistance is improved, but corrosion and oxidation resistance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a Au-based alloy containing elements like Co, Fe, Sb, Nb, Zr, Ti, or Ta that provide both heat resistance and corrosion/oxidation resistance. This composite material approach resolves the contradiction by finding elements that simultaneously improve thermal properties and chemical stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameters by selecting specific elements (Sb, Nb, Zr, Ti, Ta) that have both high melting points (heat resistance) and high corrosion/oxidation resistance. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between thermal and chemical stability.
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 suppresses plasmon loss, achieves excellent heat dissipation, and prevents deformation, thereby improving thermostability, optical characteristics, and process stability, enabling efficient thermally-assisted magnetic recording with reduced heat generation.
Implementation Method 1
a surface plasmon mode coupling portion (42c) that is coupled with light in a surface plasmon mode
Implementation Method 2
a plasmon propagation part (42b) that propagates surface plasmon from the coupling portion
Implementation Method 3
a near-field light generating end surface (42a) that generates near-field light and is positioned in a distal end part on the propagation part
Implementation Method 4
the recording layer of the magnetic recording medium is heated immediately before the application of the writing magnetic field so that the anisotropic magnetic field is reduced
Data Source
AI summary
A plasmon-generator of the invention is configured to include a first configuration member including a near-field light generating end surface; and a second configuration member joined and integrated with the first configuration member and not including the near-field light generating end surface. The first configuration member is configured to contain Au as a primary component and to contain any one or more elements selected from a group of Co, Fe, Sb, Nb, Zr, Ti, Hf, and Ta, and is configured so that a content percentage X1 of the contained element is within a range between 0.2 at % or more and 2.0 at % or less. Thereby, thermostability, optical characteristic, and the process stability are satisfied. Also, heat dissipation and heat generation suppression effect are extremely superior.