The present disclosure generally relates to a dual free layer (DFL) read head and methods of forming thereof. In one embodiment, a method of forming a DFL read head comprises depositing a DFL sensor, defining a stripe height of the DFL sensor, depositing a rear bias (RB) adjacent to the DFL sensor, defining a track width of the DFL sensor and the RB, and depositing synthetic antiferromagnetic (SAF) soft bias (SB) side shields adjacent to the DFL sensor. In another embodiment, a method of forming a DFL read head comprises depositing a DFL sensor, defining a track width of the DFL sensor, depositing SAF SB side shields adjacent to the DFL sensor, defining a stripe height of the DFL sensor and the SAF SB side shield, depositing a RB adjacent to the DFL sensor and the SAF SB side shield, and defining a track width of the RB.

A dual perpendicular magnetic recording writer is disclosed wherein the better of two writers on a slider is determined by performance testing, and is then integrated into a head gimbal assembly. Main pole layers in the two writers are separated by a cross-track width <10 microns to minimize read-write offset. Each of the driving coil (DC) and bucking coil (BC) have two outer portions forming a U shape with a front side, and each have a center portion connected to the front side proximate to an air bearing surface and a backend contacting an interconnect. A write current passes from a BC outer portion below the main pole in the selected writer through the BC center portion to the interconnect, and then through the DC center portion to a DC outer portion above the main pole in the selected writer. Area density capability mean and sigma are improved.

A recording head has a first magnetic writer and a second magnetic writer offset from the first magnetic writer in a downtrack and crosstrack direction. The recording head has leads configured to deliver respective first and second write and/or laser currents to the first and second writers. The first and second write and/or laser currents enable the first and second writers to simultaneously write to adjacent tracks of a magnetic disk.

Dual and triple PMR writers are disclosed wherein the number of writer pads required to energize the selected PMR writer is minimized to three or four, respectively, with a coil configuration wherein separate top coils are connected by separate interconnects or side taps to separate bottom coils. Either top coils or bottom coils may be linked to a common W pad. Alternatively, there may be one bottom coil that allows all output current to flow to a common W pad. Coils may have a pancake or helical shape. In dual PMR writer embodiments, there may be one or two dynamic fly height heater coils. Magnetic performance in the selected writer of a dual PMR writer is similar to that of a single PMR writer with regard to erase width in AC mode (EWAC), Hy field, trailing and side shield return fields, down-track and cross-track gradient.

A method of forming a read head. The method includes forming first and second read sensors. A first read measurement is performed on a storage medium using the first read sensor. A second read measurement is performed on the storage medium using the second read sensor. Based on a comparison of the first and second read measurements to a predetermined quantity, either the first read sensor or the second read sensor is selected to be operational in a data storage device.

A method of forming a read head. The method includes forming first and second read sensors. A first read measurement is performed on a storage medium using the first read sensor. A second read measurement is performed on the storage medium using the second read sensor. Based on a comparison of the first and second read measurements to a predetermined quantity, either the first read sensor or the second read sensor is selected to be operational in a data storage device.

A dual perpendicular magnetic recording writer is disclosed wherein the better of two writers on a slider is determined by performance testing, and is then integrated into a head gimbal assembly. Main pole layers in the two writers are separated by a cross-track width<10 microns to minimize read-write offset. Each of the driving coil (DC) and bucking coil (BC) have two outer portions forming a U shape with a front side, and each have a center portion connected to the front side proximate to an air bearing surface and a backend contacting an interconnect. A write current passes from a BC outer portion below the main pole in the selected writer through the BC center portion to the interconnect, and then through the DC center portion to a DC outer portion above the main pole in the selected writer. Area density capability mean and sigma are improved.

A dual PMR writer is disclosed wherein a first main pole (MP1) in writer 1 is a mirror image of a second main pole (MP2) in writer 2 with respect to a center plane aligned orthogonal to the air bearing surface (ABS). MP1 and MP2 may have an asymmetrical top-down shape to reduce writer-writer spacing (WWS) and read write offset (RWO) when a single or double reader is positioned down-track at the center plane. Accordingly, there is less track misregistration and better area density capability. Each of MP1 and MP2 as well as a top yoke (TY), and a tapered bottom yoke (tBY) have a rectangular back portion of width w from 4 to 10 microns. Spacing between MP1 and MP2 back portions may be 4 microns to prevent cross-talk. RWO is reduced from 4 microns for symmetrical TY/MP/tBY shapes to 3 microns or less for asymmetrical shapes.

A dual PMR writer is disclosed wherein a first main pole (MP1) in writer 1 is a mirror image of a second main pole (MP2) in writer 2 with respect to a center plane aligned orthogonal to the air bearing surface (ABS). MP1 and MP2 may have an asymmetrical top-down shape to reduce writer-writer spacing (WWS) and read write offset (RWO) when a single or double reader is positioned down-track at the center plane. Accordingly, there is less track misregistration and better area density capability. Each of MP1 and MP2 as well as a top yoke (TY), and a tapered bottom yoke (tBY) have a rectangular back portion of width w from 4 to 10 microns. Spacing between MP1 and MP2 back portions may be 4 microns to prevent cross-talk. RWO is reduced from 4 microns for symmetrical TY/MP/tBY shapes to 3 microns or less for asymmetrical shapes.

A dual PMR writer is disclosed wherein a first main pole (MP1) in writer 1 is a mirror image of a second main pole (MP2) in writer 2 with respect to a center plane aligned orthogonal to the air bearing surface (ABS). MP1 and MP2 may have an asymmetrical top-down shape to reduce writer-writer spacing (WWS) and read write offset (RWO) when a single or double reader is positioned down-track at the center plane. Accordingly, there is less track misregistration and better area density capability. Each of MP1 and MP2 as well as a top yoke (TY), and a tapered bottom yoke (tBY) have a rectangular back portion of width w from 4 to 10 microns. Spacing between MP1 and MP2 back portions may be 4 microns to prevent cross-talk. RWO is reduced from 4 microns for symmetrical TY/MP/tBY shapes to 3 microns or less for asymmetrical shapes.