According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording head includes an air bearing surface, a magnetic core including a main magnetic pole and a write shield arranged to face the main magnetic pole with a write gap, a coil, and a high-frequency oscillator provided between the main magnetic pole and the write shield in the write gap. The magnetic core includes an opposite surface facing a film surface of the high-frequency oscillator, a magnetic layer, and a nonmagnetic layer in which magnetic microparticles are dispersed. The nonmagnetic layer is provided outside the magnetic layer in at least a part of the opposite surface of the magnetic core.

A data writer can have at least a write pole separated from a return pole by a non-magnetic lamination. The non-magnetic lamination may consist of first, second, and third non-magnetic materials that are each different and configured to provide a physical protrusion on an air bearing surface of less than 4 Angstroms.

An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a sensor having an active region, a magnetic shield adjacent the active region, and a spacer between the active region and the magnetic shield. The spacer includes an electrically conductive ceramic layer. An apparatus according to another embodiment includes a sensor having an active tunnel magnetoresistive region, a magnetic shield adjacent the tunnel magnetoresistive region, and a spacer between the tunnel magnetoresistive region and the magnetic shields. The spacer includes an electrically conductive ceramic layer.

An apparatus has a main pole layer of magnetic material, a second layer of magnetic material, a first gap layer of non-magnetic material between the main pole layer and the second layer of magnetic material, and a second gap layer of non-magnetic material disposed between the main pole layer and the second layer of magnetic material. The second gap layer of non-magnetic material can be directly adjacent to the second layer of magnetic material. In accordance with one embodiment, this allows the gap to serve as a non-magnetic seed for the second layer of magnetic material. A method of manufacturing such a device is also described.

An apparatus has a main pole layer of magnetic material, a second layer of magnetic material, a first gap layer of non-magnetic material between the main pole layer and the second layer of magnetic material, and a second gap layer of non-magnetic material disposed between the main pole layer and the second layer of magnetic material. The second gap layer of non-magnetic material can be directly adjacent to the second layer of magnetic material. In accordance with one embodiment, this allows the gap to serve as a non-magnetic seed for the second layer of magnetic material. A method of manufacturing such a device is also described.

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 first magnetic layer and the second magnetic pole, a third magnetic layer provided between the second magnetic layer and the second magnetic pole, a first nonmagnetic layer provided between the first and second magnetic layers, a second nonmagnetic layer provided between the second and third magnetic layers, and a third nonmagnetic layer provided between the first magnetic pole and the first magnetic layer. A first magnetic pole length of the first magnetic pole is less than a second magnetic pole length of the second magnetic pole. A first magnetic layer length of the first magnetic layer is greater than a second magnetic layer length of the second magnetic layer.

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 first magnetic layer and the second magnetic pole, a third magnetic layer provided between the second magnetic layer and the second magnetic pole, a first nonmagnetic layer provided between the first and second magnetic layers, a second nonmagnetic layer provided between the second and third magnetic layers, and a third nonmagnetic layer provided between the first magnetic pole and the first magnetic layer. A first magnetic pole length of the first magnetic pole is less than a second magnetic pole length of the second magnetic pole. A first magnetic layer length of the first magnetic layer is greater than a second magnetic layer length of the second magnetic layer.

Aspects of the present disclosure provide various magnetic recording slider structures and fabrication methods that can reduce head overcoat (HOC) thickness without significantly reducing the lifetime and reliability of a slider by using a protective cap placed on preselected locations on the outermost surface or HOC of the slider. A slider includes a writer comprising an energy-assisted recording element. The writer is configured to store information on a magnetic medium using the energy-assisted recording element. The slider includes a head overcoat (HOC) layer providing an outermost media facing surface. The slider further includes a protective cap positioned on the HOC layer to at least partially cover the energy-assisted recording element, the protective cap including a preselected shape configured to protect the energy-assisted recording element.

Aspects of the present disclosure provide various magnetic recording slider structures and fabrication methods that can reduce head overcoat (HOC) thickness without significantly reducing the lifetime and reliability of a slider by using a protective cap placed on preselected locations on the outermost surface or HOC of the slider. A slider includes a writer comprising an energy-assisted recording element. The writer is configured to store information on a magnetic medium using the energy-assisted recording element. The slider includes a head overcoat (HOC) layer providing an outermost media facing surface. The slider further includes a protective cap positioned on the HOC layer to at least partially cover the energy-assisted recording element, the protective cap including a preselected shape configured to protect the energy-assisted recording element.

According to one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a shield, a magnetic pole, a first magnetic layer provided between the shield and the magnetic pole, a second magnetic layer provided between the first magnetic layer and the magnetic pole, a third magnetic layer provided between the second magnetic layer and the magnetic pole, a first nonmagnetic layer provided between the shield and the first magnetic layer, a second nonmagnetic layer provided between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer, a third nonmagnetic layer provided between the second magnetic layer and the third magnetic layer, and a fourth nonmagnetic layer provided between the third magnetic layer and the magnetic pole. The first and third nonmagnetic layers include one of Cu, Ag, Au, Al, and Ti. The second and fourth nonmagnetic layers include one of Ta, Pt, Ir, W, Mo, Cr, Tb, Rh, Pd, and Ru.