A heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) head has a slider with a gas-bearing-surface (GBS). The slider supports a near-field transducer (NFT) and a main magnetic pole that has a step or recess in the NFT-facing surface near the GBS that contains plasmonic material. A thermal shunt is located between the NFT and the main pole to allow heat to be transferred away from the optical spot generated by the NFT. The NFT-facing surface of the main pole that is recessed from the step away from the GBS is in contact with the thermal shunt, and the thermal shunt is in contact with the plasmonic material in the step in the back region recessed from the GBS, so there is no increase in the spacing between the NFT and a large portion of the main pole.

A heat-assisted magnetic recording head includes a near-field transducer (NFT). The NFT includes a near-field emitter configured to heat a surface of a magnetic disk, and a heat sink. The heat sink includes at least one of rhodium, copper, tungsten, tantalum, iridium, platinum, ruthenium, nickel, or iron.

A heat-assisted magnetic recording head includes a near-field transducer (NFT). The NFT includes a near-field emitter configured to heat a surface of a magnetic disk, and a heat sink. The heat sink includes at least one of rhodium, copper, tungsten, tantalum, iridium, platinum, ruthenium, nickel, or iron.

A recording head comprises a write pole extending to an air-bearing surface. A near-field transducer is positioned proximate a first side of the write pole in a down-track direction. A heatsink structure is proximate the near-field transducer and positioned between the near-field transducer and the write pole. The heatsink structure extends beyond the near-field transducer in a cross-track direction and extends in a direction normal to the air-bearing surface.

A recording head comprises a write pole extending to an air-bearing surface. A near-field transducer is positioned proximate a first side of the write pole in a down-track direction. A heatsink structure is proximate the near-field transducer and positioned between the near-field transducer and the write pole. The heatsink structure extends beyond the near-field transducer in a cross-track direction and extends in a direction normal to the air-bearing surface.

A recording head includes a channel waveguide that delivers light to a media-facing surface. A near-field transducer (NFT) is at an end of the channel waveguide and proximate to the media-facing surface. A laser including an active region has a longitudinal axis corresponding to a propagation direction of the channel waveguide. The active region includes a back facet and a front facet proximate the NFT. The front facet has a surface shape configured to suppress back reflection of the light.

A recording head includes a channel waveguide that delivers light to a media-facing surface. A near-field transducer (NFT) is at an end of the channel waveguide and proximate to the media-facing surface. A laser including an active region has a longitudinal axis corresponding to a propagation direction of the channel waveguide. The active region includes a back facet and a front facet proximate the NFT. The front facet has a surface shape configured to suppress back reflection of the light.

The present disclosure relates to pretreating a magnetic recording head. For a HAMR head, a NFT is present. Current can be applied to the NFT to condition the NFT. The current is applied in one of three ways: slowly ramping up the current from a starting level below a level capable of writing data to the optical laser current over a predetermined period of time, applying the current at a fixed value below the optical laser current for the predetermined period of time, or slowly ramping up the current from a starting level below a level capable of writing data to the optical laser current over the predetermined period of time while also intermittently removing the current. By conditioning the NFT in such a manner, the HAMR head can avoid thermal shock and thermal fatigue and thus increase the lifetime of the magnetic media drive.

The present disclosure relates to pretreating a magnetic recording head. For a HAMR head, a NFT is present. Current can be applied to the NFT to condition the NFT. The current is applied in one of three ways: slowly ramping up the current from a starting level below a level capable of writing data to the optical laser current over a predetermined period of time, applying the current at a fixed value below the optical laser current for the predetermined period of time, or slowly ramping up the current from a starting level below a level capable of writing data to the optical laser current over the predetermined period of time while also intermittently removing the current. By conditioning the NFT in such a manner, the HAMR head can avoid thermal shock and thermal fatigue and thus increase the lifetime of the magnetic media drive.

The present disclosure relates to pretreating a magnetic recording head. For a HAMR head, a NFT is present. Current can be applied to the NFT to condition the NFT. The current is applied in one of three ways: slowly ramping up the current from a starting level below a level capable of writing data to the optical laser current over a predetermined period of time, applying the current at a fixed value below the optical laser current for the predetermined period of time, or slowly ramping up the current from a starting level below a level capable of writing data to the optical laser current over the predetermined period of time while also intermittently removing the current. By conditioning the NFT in such a manner, the HAMR head can avoid thermal shock and thermal fatigue and thus increase the lifetime of the magnetic media drive.