According to one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a first magnetic pole, a second magnetic pole, and a magnetic element provided between the first and the second magnetic poles. The magnetic element includes first to fourth magnetic layers, and first to fifth non-magnetic layers. The fourth magnetic layer includes a first element and at least one of Fe, Co or Ni. The first element including at least one selected from the group consisting of Cr, V, Mn, Ti, N and Sc. The fourth non-magnetic layer including at least one selected from the group consisting of Cu, Au, Cr, Al, V and Ag. The fifth non-magnetic layer includes at least one selected from the group consisting of Cu, Au, Cr, Al, V and Ag.

An apparatus, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, includes a writer, having 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. A nonmagnetic write gap is positioned between the pole tips of the write poles. A high moment layer is positioned between the write gap and the pole tip of the second write pole. The high moment layer has a higher magnetic moment than a magnetic moment of the pole tip of the second write pole. The high moment layer is segmented into at least two portions by one or more decoupling spacers positioned between adjacent ones of the portions. Another aspect includes an apparatus with an array of such writers.

An apparatus, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, includes a writer, having 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. A nonmagnetic write gap is positioned between the pole tips of the write poles. A high moment layer is positioned between the write gap and the pole tip of the second write pole. The high moment layer has a higher magnetic moment than a magnetic moment of the pole tip of the second write pole. The high moment layer is segmented into at least two portions by one or more decoupling spacers positioned between adjacent ones of the portions. Another aspect includes an apparatus with an array of such writers.