A heat-assisted magnetic recording head comprises a near-field transducer (NFT). The NFT comprises a thermally-stabilized plasmonic alloy, wherein the thermally-stabilized plasmonic alloy comprises a plasmonic metal and at least one alloying metal.

A heat-assisted magnetic recording head includes a near-field transducer, a heat sink, a diffuser, and a diffusion barrier. The near-field transducer is configured to produce a hot spot on a proximate magnetic disk. The heat sink is configured to draw heat away from the near-field transducer. The heat sink is disposed in a down-track direction relative to and coupled to the near-field transducer. The diffuser is configured to draw heat away from the heat sink. The diffuser is disposed in a down-track direction relative to the heat sink. The diffusion barrier includes a metal. The diffusion barrier is disposed between and coupled to the heat sink and the diffuser.

A heat-assisted magnetic recording head includes a near-field transducer, a heat sink, a diffuser, and a diffusion barrier. The near-field transducer is configured to produce a hot spot on a proximate magnetic disk. The heat sink is configured to draw heat away from the near-field transducer. The heat sink is disposed in a down-track direction relative to and coupled to the near-field transducer. The diffuser is configured to draw heat away from the heat sink. The diffuser is disposed in a down-track direction relative to the heat sink. The diffusion barrier includes a metal. The diffusion barrier is disposed between and coupled to the heat sink and the diffuser.

A first waveguide core is configured to receive light via an input surface. The first waveguide core extends away from the input surface in a light propagation direction and terminates at a coupling region. A second waveguide core has a first end at the coupling region and a second end at a media-facing surface that is opposed to the input surface. The first end is separated from the termination of the first waveguide core by a gap in the coupling region. The coupling region includes an overlap between the first and second waveguide cores and is configured to promote evanescent coupling between the first and second waveguide cores.

A device including a near field transducer (NFT); a write pole; at least one dielectric material positioned between the NFT and the write pole; and an adhesion layer positioned between the NFT and the at least one dielectric material.

A device including a near field transducer (NFT); a write pole; at least one dielectric material positioned between the NFT and the write pole; and an adhesion layer positioned between the NFT and the at least one dielectric material.

A method including depositing a plasmonic material at a temperature of at least 150° C.; and forming at least a peg of a near field transducer (NFT) from the deposited plasmonic material.

A method including depositing a plasmonic material at a temperature of at least 150° C.; and forming at least a peg of a near field transducer (NFT) from the deposited plasmonic material.

An apparatus comprises a slider configured to facilitate heat assisted magnetic recording and a submount affixed to the slider. A laser unit is affixed to the submount and comprises a laser operable in a non-lasing state and a lasing state. A heater is embedded in the laser unit or the submount. The heater is configured to generate preheat for heating the laser during the non-lasing state and to generate steering heat for heating the laser during the lasing state.

An apparatus comprises a slider configured to facilitate heat assisted magnetic recording and a submount affixed to the slider. A laser unit is affixed to the submount and comprises a laser operable in a non-lasing state and a lasing state. A heater is embedded in the laser unit or the submount. The heater is configured to generate preheat for heating the laser during the non-lasing state and to generate steering heat for heating the laser during the lasing state.