Rh Plasmonic Optical Field Enhancer for TAMR Head Lifetime
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Solution Overview
Problem
Thermally Assisted Magnetic Recording (TAMR) heads face challenges in improving the lifetime of recording heads while maintaining performance and low laser power requirements, as soft plasmonic metals like Au are prone to deformation, leading to increased power requirements and reduced reliability.
Innovation Solution
A side-shielded and waveguide-blocked TAMR write head design using weakly plasmonic materials like Rh, which replaces strongly plasmonic metals, incorporates pre-focusing mechanisms with larger dielectric and plasmonic structures to enhance plasmon near-field energy delivery without thermal deformation, and employs an optical field enhancer to concentrate energy on the recording medium.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If strongly plasmonic metals like Au are used to generate plasmon near-field energy, then heating efficiency is improved, but thermal deformation occurs leading to reduced reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from strongly plasmonic metals (Au) to weakly plasmonic materials (Rh, Pt, Pd), fundamentally altering the plasmon generation characteristics while maintaining structural stability and preventing thermal deformation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite structures combining waveguide blockers and side shields made of weakly plasmonic materials that work together to generate and confine plasmon near-field energy, achieving both heating efficiency and reliability through material composition
2Reliability
If weakly plasmonic materials like Rh are used to replace Au, then thermal deformation is reduced, but plasmon energy generation is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the plasmon generation system into segmented components (waveguide blocker and side shields) that collectively generate and confine plasmon energy, compensating for the lower individual plasmon generation capability of weakly plasmonic materials
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dielectric layers as intermediaries between the weakly plasmonic materials and the magnetic recording medium, enhancing the coupling of plasmon near-field energy to the recording medium and improving heating efficiency
3Power
If pre-focusing structures are added to enhance plasmon energy delivery, then energy concentration is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the waveguide blocker and side shields to serve multiple functions simultaneously: blocking optical waves, generating plasmon near-field energy, confining energy laterally, and providing structural support, thereby reducing the need for additional dedicated components
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 achieves high efficiency and comparable performance to prior art TAMR heads without the need for soft Au layers, reducing thermal deformation and maintaining low power requirements, thereby extending the lifetime of the recording heads.
Implementation Method 1
The optical radiation coupled by the waveguide to the plasmon generator is in turn coupled to the recording medium via plasmon near-field energy
Implementation Method 2
The waveguide excites plasmon modes in the generator through electromagnetic coupling
Implementation Method 3
the plasmon energy is transferred to the magnetic medium from the near field of the plasmon rather than by directly focusing the optical radiation of the laser
Implementation Method 4
heats the surface of the recording media to reduce its coercivity
Implementation Method 5
write heads that use Thermally Assisted Magnetic Recording (TAMR) enabled by the absorption of plasmon near-field energy
Data Source
AI summary
A TAMR (thermally assisted magnetic recording) write head uses weakly plasmonic materials to create plasmon near field energy. The replacement of highly plasmonic materials like Au with weakly plasmonic materials like Rh avoids the thermal deformations of softer metals like Au. To maintain the performance of the head, it includes pre-focusing structures that concentrate plasmon energy by the creation of surface plasmon polaritons which are converted to more narrowly confined plasmons by excitation by a tapered waveguide. A waveguide blocker at the distal end of the waveguide enhances the formation of surface plasmon polaritons at the interface between the blocker and the distal end of the waveguide. A pair of symmetrically disposed optical side shields are formed to either side of the pole tip and a weakly plasmonic optical field enhancer further strengthens the optical field.