A method of forming a sub-structure, suitable for use as a hot seed in a perpendicular magnetic recording head, is described. A buffer layer of alumina with a thickness of 50-350 Angstroms is formed by atomic layer deposition as a write gap. Thereafter, one or more seed layers having a body-centered cubic (bcc) crystal structure may be deposited on the buffer layer. Finally, a magnetic film made of FeCo or FeNi with a coercivity of 60-110 Oe is deposited on the seed layer(s) by a physical vapor deposition (PVD) method at a rate of 0.48 to 3.6 Angstroms per second. The magnetic film is preferably annealed at 220° C. for 2 hours in a 250 Oe applied magnetic field.

According to one embodiment, a magnetic head includes first and second shields, a magnetic pole, and a trailing shield. The magnetic pole is provided between the first and second shields. The trailing shield is separated from the magnetic pole. The first shield includes first magnetic layers and first nonmagnetic layers arranged alternately along a first stacking direction. The first nonmagnetic layers include at least one selected from the group consisting of Ru, Cu, and Cr. Thicknesses of the first nonmagnetic layers each is not less than 0.3 nanometers and not more than 2.2 nanometers. The second shield includes second magnetic layers and second nonmagnetic layers arranged alternately along a second stacking direction. The second nonmagnetic layers include at least one selected from the group consisting of Ru, Cu, and Cr. Thicknesses of the second nonmagnetic layers each is not less than 0.3 nanometers and not more than 2.2 nanometers.

The disclosed technology includes a storage device including an interlaced magnetic recording (IMR) system, and a transducer head, including two writers, each writer including a write pole, wherein a width of a first write pole in a cross-track direction is substantially greater than a width of a second write pole in the cross-track direction, and wherein a down-track width of a front shield gap of the first write pole is substantially similar to down-track width of a front shield gap of the second write pole. In another implementation, the storage device includes an IMR system, and a transducer head, including two writers, each writer including a write pole, wherein a width of the first write pole in a cross-track direction is substantially greater than a width of a second write pole in a cross-track direction, and wherein a cross-track width of a side shield gap of the first write pole is substantially similar to a cross-track width of a side shield gap of the second write pole.

A microwave assisted magnetic head includes a main magnetic pole; a trailing shield; and a spin torque oscillator provided between the main magnetic pole and the trailing shield. The spin torque oscillator has a first end surface configuring a part of an air bearing surface, a second end surface facing the main magnetic pole, and a third end surface facing the first end surface, the first angle θ1 made by the first end surface and the second end surface is smaller than the second angle θ2 formed by the second end surface and the third end surface, and the second angle θ2 is 80 to 100 degrees.

A magnetic apparatus has a media-facing surface (MFS), a pole, a top shield, a back gap and coil(s). The pole includes a yoke extension, a yoke between the yoke extension and the MFS, and a pole tip between the yoke and the MFS. The write gap is between the top shield and the pole tip. The back gap is recessed from the ABS and magnetically and physically connects the top shield to the yoke. The coil(s) energize the pole and have multiple turns. Part of a first turn is between the yoke and the top shield. Part of a second turn is recessed from the MFS and aligned with part of the yoke extension. Part of the first turn is between the part of the second turn and the MFS. The back gap is between part of the first turn and part of the second turn.

A near-field transducer includes an enlarged portion formed of a soft plasmonic metal. A diffusion barrier is formed on one side of the enlarged portion, the diffusion barrier made of a harder material than the soft plasmonic metal. A heat sink is formed on the diffusion barrier, the heat sink made of the soft plasmonic metal. A peg is embedded in the diffusion layer so that the peg is isolated from the enlarged portion and the heat sink. The peg made of the soft plasmonic material and extends out from the diffusion layer towards a recording medium.

A magnetic head includes a medium facing surface, a coil, a main pole, a write shield, and a first and a second return path section. The first return path section is located on the leading side of the main pole. The coil includes a specific coil element passing through a space defined by main pole, a gap section, write shield and first return path section. The main pole has a bottom end including a first portion and a second portion, the second portion being farther from medium facing surface than is the first portion. The specific coil element has a rear end farthest from medium facing surface. The distance from medium facing surface to rear end of the specific coil element is smaller than or equal to the distance from the medium facing surface to the boundary between the first portion and the second portion.

A method for fabricating a near-field transducer (NFT) for a heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) write apparatus is described. The HAMR write apparatus is coupled with a laser for providing energy and has a media-facing surface (MFS) configured to reside in proximity to a media during use. The method includes providing a stack on an underlayer. The stack includes an endpoint detection layer, an optical layer and an etchable layer. The optical layer is between the etchable and endpoint detection layers. The etchable layer is patterned to form a mask. A portion of the optical layer is removed. A remaining portion of the optical layer has a bevel at a bevel angle from the MFS location. The bevel angle is nonzero and acute. The NFT is provided such that the NFT has an NFT front surface adjoining the bevel and at the bevel angle from the MFS location.

An apparatus comprises a magnetic pole and a near-field transducer positioned at or near a media-facing surface and is separated from the magnetic pole, the near-field transducer configured to generate a thermal spot. The apparatus further comprises a layer proximate the magnetic pole and the near-field transducer, and the layer is configured to reduce a magnetic field proximate a center of the thermal spot.

A magnetic writer includes a high magnetic moment write pole layer on a main write pole, the write pole layer including a proximal end recessed from the air bearing surface, and a Wide Area Track Erasure (WATER) reservoir recessed from the proximal end of the write pole layer and transverse to a longitudinal direction of the main write pole. The write pole layer may be conformal in shape to, but have smaller dimensions relative to, the main write pole, such that a distance between their outer surfaces is generally constant in a flare region. The WATER reservoir width, in a cross-track direction, may be greater than or equal to the maximum width of the main write pole.