A magnetic head includes a coil, a main pole and a return path section. The return path section is located on the trailing side relative to the main pole so that a space is defined between the main pole and itself. The coil includes a first winding portion and a second winding portion connected in series. The first winding portion extends to pass through the aforementioned space, and extends once around the entire perimeter of the main pole as viewed from the medium facing surface. The second winding portion does not pass through the aforementioned space, and surrounds only a part of the entire perimeter of the main pole as viewed from the medium facing surface.

A data writer may be configured with at least a write pole continuously extending from an air bearing surface to a via. The write pole can contact at least one yoke that contacts the write pole. The write pole and yoke may each be disposed between and separated from a write coil that has a single turn and continuously extends to opposite sides of the write pole.

A magnetic recording device includes a magnetic recording medium, a microwave assisted magnetic head having a main magnetic pole for generating a recording magnetic field, and a spin torque oscillator provided near the main magnetic pole for generating a microwave magnetic field, a recording current supply part for supplying a recording current to recording coils according to recording current waveform data, a drive current supply part for supplying a drive current to the spin torque oscillator, and a drive current control part for controlling supply of the drive current by the drive current supply part based on the data. Taking into consideration as an indicator whether a polarity reversal interval included in the data exceeds a threshold time, the drive current control part controls the drive current supply part so as not to substantially lower the quality of signals recorded on the magnetic recording medium.

A PMR writer is disclosed wherein magnetic flux return from a magnetic medium to a main pole is substantially greater through a trailing shield structure than through a leading shield and return path layer (RTP). Magnetic impedance is increased between the RTP and main pole in the leading return loop by modifying the size and shape of the back gap connection (BGC), by decreasing Bs in the RTP or reducing its thickness, or by removing one or more layers in the BGC and replacing with dielectric material or non-magnetic metal to form a dielectric gap between the RTP and main pole. As a result, area density control and bit error rate are improved over a conventional dual write shield (DWS) structure comprising two flux return pathways. Moreover, adjacent track erasure is maintained at a level similar to a DWS design.

A magnetic head includes a coil, a main pole, a write shield, and a return path section. The coil includes a coil element located on the trailing side of the main pole. The coil element has a front end face facing toward the medium facing surface. The return path section includes a first portion, a second portion, and an intermediate film interposed between the first portion and the second portion. Part of the first portion is interposed between the medium facing surface and the front end face of the coil element. Part of the second portion is interposed between the first portion and the front end face of the coil element.

A magnetic head includes a coil, a main pole, a write shield, and a return path section. The coil includes a coil element located on the trailing side of the main pole. The coil element has a front end face facing toward the medium facing surface. The return path section includes a first portion, a second portion, and an intermediate film interposed between the first portion and the second portion. Part of the first portion is interposed between the medium facing surface and the front end face of the coil element. Part of the second portion is interposed between the first portion and the front end face of the coil element.

A data writer may be configured with at least a write pole continuously extending from an air bearing surface to a via. The write pole can contact at least one yoke that contacts the write pole. The write pole and yoke may each be disposed between and separated from a write coil that has a single turn and continuously extends to opposite sides of the write pole.

A magnetic head includes a coil, a main pole and a return path section. The return path section is located on the trailing side relative to the main pole so that a space is defined between the main pole and itself. The coil includes a first winding portion and a second winding portion connected in series. The first winding portion extends to pass through the aforementioned space, and extends once around the entire perimeter of the main pole as viewed from the medium facing surface. The second winding portion does not pass through the aforementioned space, and surrounds only a part of the entire perimeter of the main pole as viewed from the medium facing surface.

A magnetic head includes a coil, a main pole, a write shield and first and second yokes. The first and second yokes are connected to the write shield. The coil includes a main coil portion for driving the main pole, a first sub-coil portion for driving the first yoke, and a second sub-coil portion for driving the second yoke. A magnetic field produced in the main pole by the main coil portion and a magnetic field produced in each of the first and second yokes by the first and second sub-coil portions are in directions opposite to each other.

While a heat-assisted, magnetic recording medium is being read from, power is applied to a write coil of a read/write head to control a spacing between a read transducer and the recording medium via thermal expansion induced by a write pole magnetically coupled to the write coil. A coefficient of thermal expansion proximate the read transducer is higher than a coefficient of thermal expansion proximate the write pole to increase a deformation at the read transducer relative to the write pole. Optionally, a media-facing surface of the read/write head may include a recess encompassing at least the write pole to prevent contact between the write pole and the recording medium while controlling the spacing.