The present disclosure generally relates to magnetic storage devices, such as magnetic tape drives, comprising a read head. The read head comprises a plurality of read sensors disposed between a lower shield having a first width in a stripe height direction and an upper shield. The plurality of read sensors comprise an antiferromagnetic layer and a free layer comprising a first layer and a second layer. A plurality of soft bias side shields disposed adjacent to and outwardly of the plurality of read sensors in a cross-track direction, each of the plurality of soft bias side shields having a second width in the stripe height direction less than the first width. Each of the plurality of soft bias side shields are spaced a first distance from the lower shield and a second distance from the upper shield, the first distance being substantially equal to the second distance.

A magnetic head includes a main pole, a trailing shield, and a spin torque oscillator. A top surface of the main pole includes a first inclined portion, a second inclined portion, and a third inclined portion arranged in order of closeness to a medium facing surface. Each of the first to third inclined portions has a front end closest to the medium facing surface and a rear end farthest from the medium facing surface. Each of the first to third inclined portions is inclined relative to the medium facing surface and a direction orthogonal to the medium facing surface so that its rear end is located forward relative to its front end in a direction of travel of a recording medium.

The present disclosure generally relates to magnetic storage devices, such as magnetic tape drives, comprising a read head. The read head comprises a plurality of read sensors disposed between a lower shield and an upper shield. A plurality of soft bias side shields are disposed adjacent to and outwardly of the plurality of read sensors in a cross-track direction. A plurality of hard bias side shields are disposed on and in contact with the soft bias side shields to stabilize the soft bias side shields. Each of the plurality of soft bias side shields are spaced a first distance from the lower shield and each of the hard bias side shields are spaced a second distance from the upper shield, the first distance being substantially equal to the second distance.

The present disclosure generally relates to data storage devices, and more specifically, to a magnetic media drive employing a magnetic recording head. The magnetic recording head comprises a main pole and a trailing shield disposed adjacent to the main pole. A recessed edge of the trailing shield has throat heights varying in the cross-track direction. In one embodiment, a central portion of the trailing shield disposed adjacent or closest to the main pole has a first throat height less than a second throat height of outer portions of the trailing shield further from the main pole. In another embodiment, the central portion of the trailing shield has a first throat height greater than a second throat height of outer portions of the trailing shield. The trailing shield having varying throat heights in the cross-track direction strengthens the writing capability or improves the XTI of the magnetic recording head.

A system and methods for manufacturing devices such as flexures using process coupons are described are described. The method including performing a test on at least one feature of a coupon, the coupon is included on an assembly sheet used in manufacturing flexures. The at least one feature is produced by a manufacturing processing step that is used to produce a portion of a flexure. And, the physical characteristics of the feature include at least one physical characteristic that is different than physical characteristics of the portion. The method also including determining the manufacturing processing step will produce an abnormal portion of a flexure based on the performed test. Further, the method includes adjusting the manufacturing processing step and manufacturing a portion of a flexure using the adjusted manufacturing processing step.

Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to a magnetic recording head of a magnetic recording device that facilitates generating a downtrack magnetic bias field to enhance writing. During magnetic writing using the magnetic recording head, a bias current is directed in a cross-track direction on the trailing side of the main pole. Bias current flowing in the cross-track direction on a leading side of the main pole is reduced or eliminated. The bias current flowing in the cross-track direction on the trailing side of the main pole facilitates generating a magnetic field in a downtrack direction. The magnetic field in the downtrack direction is a bias field generated using the bias current. The magnetic bias field in the downtrack direction facilitates enhanced writing performance and increased areal density capability (ADC) for magnetic recording.

According to one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a protective layer. When an element unit is a magnetic recording element unit, the protective layer includes a first region on a magnetic recording element protrusion and a second region on a magnetic recording element shield, the first region and the second region being flush with each other, or the first region being recessed more than the second region. When the element unit is a magnetic reading element unit, the protective layer includes a third region on a magnetic reading element protrusion and a fourth region on a magnetic reading element shield, the third region and the fourth region being flush with each other, or the third region being recessed more than the fourth region.

A near-field transducer or heat sink is formed via a first process. The near-field transducer or heat sink is transfer-printed to a read/write head via a second process.

According to one embodiment, a magnetic head includes first and second magnetic poles, and a stacked body provided between the first and second magnetic poles. The stacked body includes a first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer provided between the second magnetic pole and the first magnetic layer, a third magnetic layer provided between the second magnetic pole and the second magnetic layer, a fourth magnetic layer provided between the second magnetic pole and the third magnetic layer, a first non-magnetic layer provided between the first magnetic layer and the first magnetic pole, a second non-magnetic layer provided between the second and first magnetic layers, a third non-magnetic layer provided between the third and second magnetic layers, a fourth non-magnetic layer provided between the fourth magnetic layer and the third magnetic layer, and a fifth non-magnetic layer provided between the second magnetic pole and the fourth magnetic layer.

An apparatus comprises a slider configured for heat-assisted magnetic recording comprising an air bearing surface (ABS). The slider comprises a write pole at or near the ABS, and a near-field transducer (NFT) at or near the ABS and proximate the write pole. A main waveguide is configured to receive light from a laser source and communicate the light to the NFT. An optical power sensor comprises a tap waveguide optically coupled to the main waveguide and comprising a first end and an opposing second end. The optical power sensor also comprises a bolometer optically coupled to the tap waveguide and configured to receive a portion of the light extracted from the main waveguide by the tap waveguide.