Plasmon Generator Heat Sink Layer for Thermal Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Thermally-assisted magnetic recording heads face challenges in maintaining the reliability of plasmon generators due to heat-induced deformation and breakdown, particularly when the width of the plasmon generator's end face is reduced to achieve higher recording density, leading to shortened device life.
Innovation Solution
A plasmon generator design incorporating a first metal portion with a high Vickers hardness, a second metal portion with lower Vickers hardness and higher thermal conductivity, and a heat sink layer with even higher thermal conductivity but lower Vickers hardness, strategically positioned to dissipate heat and prevent temperature rise and deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the width of the plasmon generator's end face is reduced to achieve higher recording density, then recording density is improved, but the plasmon generator becomes more susceptible to heat-induced deformation and breakdown, reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The plasmon generator is divided into multiple metal portions (first metal portion with high Vickers hardness and second metal portion with lower Vickers hardness but higher thermal conductivity) to simultaneously achieve mechanical strength and heat dissipation. This segmentation allows each portion to contribute its specific property to resolve the contradiction between miniaturization and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The plasmon generator uses composite metal structures combining different metal materials with complementary properties. The first metal portion provides mechanical strength while the second metal portion provides thermal conductivity, creating a composite structure that maintains reliability even when the overall size is reduced for higher recording density.
2Length of moving object
If the plasmon generator is made smaller to reduce track width, then device size is reduced, but heat dissipation becomes less effective, causing temperature rise and deformation
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the plasmon generator are assigned different metal materials based on their specific functional requirements. The second metal portion with higher thermal conductivity is strategically positioned to enhance local heat dissipation capability, while the first metal portion maintains structural integrity. This local optimization of material properties enables effective heat management in miniaturized structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite metal structure combines materials with different thermal conductivities to create an optimized heat dissipation pathway within the miniaturized plasmon generator, preventing temperature rise despite reduced overall dimensions.
3Device complexity
If a single metal material is used for the plasmon generator, then device complexity is reduced, but it is difficult to simultaneously achieve high mechanical strength and high thermal conductivity
Solution Approach 1:
The plasmon generator is segmented into multiple metal portions, each made from materials optimized for specific functions. This segmentation allows the device to achieve both high mechanical strength and high thermal conductivity without excessive complexity, as each segment can be independently optimized and manufactured.
Solution Approach 2:
By using composite metal materials with different properties in different portions, the plasmon generator achieves superior overall performance in both mechanical strength and thermal conductivity, resolving the limitation of single-material designs while maintaining reasonable structural complexity.
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 design enhances the reliability of the plasmon generator by effectively dissipating heat and reducing the likelihood of deformation, thereby extending the life and performance of the thermally-assisted magnetic recording head.
Implementation Method 1
a heat sink layer interposed between two portions formed of different metal materials
Implementation Method 2
a known method for generating near-field light is to use a plasmon generator, which is a piece of metal that generates near-field light from plasmons excited by irradiation with laser light
Data Source
AI summary
A plasmon generator includes: a first portion formed of a first metal material and including a front end face configured to generate near-field light; a second portion formed of a second metal material and located at a distance from the front end face; and a heat sink layer formed of a third metal material, located at a distance from the front end face and interposed between the first portion and the second portion. The second metal material is lower in Vickers hardness and higher in thermal conductivity than the first metal material. The third metal material has a thermal conductivity higher than that of each of the first and second metal materials, and has a Vickers hardness lower than that of the first metal material and higher than that of the second metal material.