An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes a write transducer having: a bottom yoke, a top yoke, a nonmagnetic write gap positioned between the top and bottom yokes, a bottom pole extending from the bottom yoke toward the write gap, and a top pole extending from the top yoke toward the write gap. A width of a media facing side of the bottom pole is about the same as a width of a media facing side of the top pole. The media facing side of the bottom pole is aligned with the media facing side of the top pole along a thickness direction. A method, according to one embodiment, includes performing bidirectional writing to a magnetic recording tape using a write transducer as described above.

An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes a write transducer having: a bottom yoke, a top yoke, a nonmagnetic write gap positioned between the top and bottom yokes, a bottom pole extending from the bottom yoke toward the write gap, and a top pole extending from the top yoke toward the write gap. A width of a media facing side of the bottom pole is about the same as a width of a media facing side of the top pole. The media facing side of the bottom pole is aligned with the media facing side of the top pole along a thickness direction. A method, according to one embodiment, includes performing bidirectional writing to a magnetic recording tape using a write transducer as described above.

A spin-orbit torque (SOT) magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) device includes a substrate, a buffer layer formed over the substrate, and a bismuth antimony (BiSb) layer formed over the buffer layer, the BiSb layer having a (012) orientation. In certain embodiments, the SOT MTJ device is part of a microwave assisted magnetic recording (MAMR) write head. In certain embodiments, the SOT MTJ device is part of a magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) device.

A spin-orbit torque (SOT) magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) device includes a substrate, a buffer layer formed over the substrate, and a bismuth antimony (BiSb) layer formed over the buffer layer, the BiSb layer having a (012) orientation. In certain embodiments, the SOT MTJ device is part of a microwave assisted magnetic recording (MAMR) write head. In certain embodiments, the SOT MTJ device is part of a magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) device.

Certain embodiments are directed to a spin torque oscillator (STO) device in a microwave assisted magnetic recording (MAMR) device. The magnetic recording head includes a seed layer, a spin polarization layer over the seed layer, a spacer layer over the spin polarization layer, and a field generation layer is over the spacer layer. In one embodiment, the seed layer comprises a tantalum alloy layer. In another embodiment, the seed layer comprises a template layer and a damping reduction layer over the template layer. In yet another embodiment, the seed layer comprises a texture reset layer, a template layer on the texture reset layer, and a damping reduction layer on the template layer.

An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes: an array of write transducers. Each of the write transducers include: a first write pole having a pole tip extending from a media facing side of the first write pole, and a second write pole having a pole tip extending from a media facing side of the second write pole. Each of the write transducers also include a nonmagnetic write gap between the pole tips of the write poles, and a first high moment layer between the write gap and the pole tip of the second write pole. The first high moment layer further includes a higher magnetic moment than a magnetic moment of the pole tip of the second write pole. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in additional embodiments.

An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes: an array of write transducers. Each of the write transducers include: a first write pole having a pole tip extending from a media facing side of the first write pole, and a second write pole having a pole tip extending from a media facing side of the second write pole. Each of the write transducers also include a nonmagnetic write gap between the pole tips of the write poles, and a first high moment layer between the write gap and the pole tip of the second write pole. The first high moment layer further includes a higher magnetic moment than a magnetic moment of the pole tip of the second write pole. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in additional embodiments.

An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes a write transducer having: a bottom yoke, a top yoke, a nonmagnetic write gap positioned between the top and bottom yokes, a bottom pole extending from the bottom yoke toward the write gap, and a top pole extending from the top yoke toward the write gap. A width of a media facing side of the bottom pole is about the same as a width of a media facing side of the top pole. The media facing side of the bottom pole is aligned with the media facing side of the top pole along a thickness direction. A method, according to one embodiment, includes performing bidirectional writing to a magnetic recording tape using a write transducer as described above.

According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording device includes a magnetic head, a first circuit, and a second circuit. The magnetic head includes a magnetic pole, a first shield, a stacked body provided between the magnetic pole and the first shield, a first terminal electrically connected to the magnetic pole, a second terminal electrically connected to the first shield, and a coil. The first circuit is electrically connected to the first terminal and the second terminal. The second circuit is electrically connected to the coil. The first circuit performs at least a first operation. In the first operation, the first circuit supplies a first current to a current path between the first and second terminals when the second circuit supplies a recording current to the coil. The first current is smaller than a second current. The second current causes an electrical resistance of the current path to oscillate.

According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording device includes a magnetic head, a first circuit, and a second circuit. The magnetic head includes a magnetic pole, a first shield, a stacked body provided between the magnetic pole and the first shield, a first terminal electrically connected to the magnetic pole, a second terminal electrically connected to the first shield, and a coil. The first circuit is electrically connected to the first terminal and the second terminal. The second circuit is electrically connected to the coil. The first circuit performs at least a first operation. In the first operation, the first circuit supplies a first current to a current path between the first and second terminals when the second circuit supplies a recording current to the coil. The first current is smaller than a second current. The second current causes an electrical resistance of the current path to oscillate.