A write head includes an input coupler configured to receive light excited by a light source. A waveguide core is configured to receive light from the input coupler at a fundamental transverse electric (TE.sub.00) mode. The waveguide core has a first straight portion. The waveguide core has a mode converter portion comprising a branched portion extending from the first straight portion. The mode converter portion is configured to convert the light to a higher-order (TE.sub.10) mode, the mode converter portion spaced apart from the input coupler. The waveguide core has a second straight portion between the mode converter portion and a media-facing surface. The write head has a near-field transducer at the media-facing surface, the near-field transducer receiving the light at the TE.sub.10 mode from the waveguide and directing surface plasmons to a recording medium in response thereto.

An apparatus comprises a slider configured to facilitate heat assisted magnetic recording. The slider comprises a plurality of bond pads including a first electrical bond pad, a second electrical bond pad, and a ground pad. A laser diode comprises an anode coupled to the first electrical bond pad and a cathode coupled to the second electrical bond pad. The laser diode is operable in a non-lasing state and a lasing state. A heater is coupled between the ground pad and at least one of the anode and cathode of the laser diode. The heater is configured to generate heat for heating the laser diode during the non-lasing state and the lasing state.

Disclosed herein are magnetic recording devices and methods of using them. A magnetic recording device comprises a main pole extending to an air-bearing surface (ABS), a trailing shield extending to the ABS, a write-field-enhancing structure disposed between and coupled to the main pole and the trailing shield at the ABS, a write coil configured to magnetize the main pole, a write current control circuit coupled to the write coil and configured to apply a write current to the write coil, wherein the write current comprises a write pulse, and a bias current control circuit coupled to the write-field-enhancing structure and configured to apply a bias current to the write-field-enhancing structure, wherein the bias current comprises a driving pulse offset in time from the write pulse by a delay, wherein the delay substantially coincides with an expected magnetization switch-time lag of a free layer of the write-field-enhancing structure.

Disclosed is a device for recording information on a magnetic data storage medium which comprises a magnetic field source designed to be capable of generating a magnetic field in the region where the magnetic data storage medium is arranged; a source of electromagnetic radiation at a matrix of controllable mirrors; and a matrix of controllable mirrors mounted in a housing so as to be capable of reflecting electromagnetic radiation by means of the controllable mirrors into the region where the magnetic data storage medium is arranged and/or in another direction. The present invention makes it possible to record information on a fixed magnetic data storage medium.

A heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) hard disk drive has a gas-bearing slider supporting a near-field transducer (NFT) and a NFT temperature sensor (NTS). An optional first IVC circuitry may provide a bias voltage to the slider body to assure substantially zero electrical potential between the slider body and the disk to minimize slider-disk contact and lubrication pick-up. A second IVC circuitry operates independently of the first IVC circuitry and provides a negative bias voltage to the NTS (and the connected NFT) relative to the disk to minimize the adverse effects of excessive heating on the NFT.

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 heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) head for recording data in data tracks of a HAMR disk has a gas-bearing slider that supports a near-field transducer (NFT) and a main magnetic pole formed of two layers. The first main pole layer has a cross-track width at the slider's gas-bearing surface (GBS) that tapers down in the direction towards the NFT where the optical spot is formed. The second main pole layer is located away from the NFT and has a substantially wider cross-track width than the first main pole layer so as to provide sufficient magnetic field for writing. Layers of heat sink material are located on the sloped cross-track sides of the tapered first main pole layer to reduce the temperature and thus the likelihood of oxidation of the main pole layers.

Systems and methods, e.g., optical apparatuses, for digital optical information storage systems that improve the speed, signal to noise, controllability, and data storage density for fluorescent and reflective multilayer optical data storage media. The systems and methods include an optical system for a reading beam of a data channel from a moving single or multi-layer or otherwise 3-dimensional optical information storage medium that comprises at least one optical element characterized by restricting the field of view (FOV) of the reading beam on an associated image plane to 0.3 to 2 Airy disk diameters in a first direction.

An apparatus includes a substrate and a reader deposited on the substrate. A laser is formed on a non-self supporting structure and bonded to the substrate. A plurality of heat sink layers are deposited between the reader and the laser and configured to provide thermal coupling between the substrate and the laser and sink heat away from the laser. A waveguide is deposited proximate the laser. The waveguide is configured to communicate light from the laser to a near-field transducer that directs energy resulting from plasmonic excitation to a recording medium.

An automatic magneto-optic system includes a high field magnet controlled by a magnet control module, a non-contact magneto-optic measurement module, and an automated cassette-based disk transfer module. The magnet control module is constructed and arranged to apply a magnetic field of constant or a time-varying strength to a selected location of a magnetic disk. The non-contact magneto-optic measurement module includes a light source module and a measurement module. The automated cassette-based disk transfer module is constructed and arranged to position a selected location of a magnetic disc inside the magnet. The disk transfer module may include a multi-disk positioning module. The multi-disk positioning module may include one, two or more motors. The multi-disk positioning module may be constructed to determine angular displacement or rotation necessary for a second selected location to be inside the magnet to perform the magneto-optic measurement and constructed to attain the second selected position.