Thermally-Assisted Magnetic Recording Head Pole Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermally-assisted magnetic recording heads face challenges in achieving precise alignment and desired sizing of the end faces of the plasmon generator and main pole, which affects the magnetic flux and write magnetic field strength, limiting recording density and thermal stability.
Innovation Solution
A thermally-assisted magnetic recording head design featuring a main pole with a first and second end face portion, a surrounding layer, and a gap film, allowing for precise alignment and adjustable spacing between the end faces, enabling efficient magnetic flux passage and write magnetic field generation without limitations from the plasmon generator's width.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the width of the end face of the main pole is reduced to achieve smaller track width, then recording density is improved, but the write magnetic field strength deteriorates due to insufficient magnetic flux passage
Solution Approach 1:
The end face of the main pole is segmented into a light incident area (facing the plasmon generator) and a side area (extending in the track width direction). This segmentation allows the light incident area to receive concentrated laser light for efficient near-field light generation, while the side area provides additional width for sufficient magnetic flux passage and write magnetic field strength, resolving the contradiction between recording density and write field strength.
2Productivity
If the width of the end face of the plasmon generator is reduced to achieve smaller track width, then recording density is improved, but the alignment precision with the main pole deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The plasmon generator's light receiving surface is segmented into a light incident area (facing the main pole) and side areas. This segmentation allows the light incident area to be precisely aligned with the main pole's light incident area for accurate near-field light generation, while the side areas provide additional width for alignment tolerance and manufacturing precision, resolving the contradiction between recording density and alignment precision.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the anisotropic energy of magnetic fine particles is increased to improve thermal stability, then thermal stability is improved, but coercivity increases making data writing difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs thermally-assisted magnetic recording which changes the temperature parameter of the recording medium during writing. By locally heating the recording area with near-field light, the coercivity is temporarily reduced to enable data writing, and after cooling, the high anisotropic energy provides thermal stability, thus resolving the contradiction between thermal stability and writability.
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
This design enhances the magnetic flux passage and write magnetic field strength, allowing for improved recording density and thermal stability by enabling precise alignment and sizing of the end faces, thus overcoming previous limitations.
Implementation Method 1
the surface of the core and the surface of the plasmon generator face each other with a gap interposed therebetween... excite surface plasmons on the plasmon generator by using evanescent light that occurs on the surface of the core based on the light propagating through the core
Implementation Method 2
excite surface plasmons on the plasmon generator by using evanescent light that occurs on the surface of the core... and to cause near-field light to be generated from the end face of the plasmon generator based on the excited surface plasmons
Implementation Method 3
cause near-field light to be generated from the end face of the plasmon generator based on the excited surface plasmons
Implementation Method 4
The main pole has an end face located in the medium facing surface, and produces a write magnetic field from this end face
Implementation Method 5
a coil for producing a magnetic field corresponding to data to be written on the recording medium
Data Source
AI summary
A main pole has a front end face including a first end face portion and a second end face portion. A plasmon generator has a near-field light generating surface. A surrounding layer has a first surrounding layer end face and a second surrounding layer end face located on opposite sides of the first end face portion in the track width direction. A gap film has a first gap film end face and a second gap film end face located on opposite sides of the near-field light generating surface in the track width direction. Each of the first and second gap film end faces includes a portion located between the first and second surrounding layer end faces, but does not include any portion interposed between the first surrounding layer end face and the first end face portion or between the second surrounding layer end face and the first end face portion.