A recording head includes a near-field transducer configured to heat one or more portions of a magnetic storage layer to generate a thermal profile in the magnetic storage layer. The recording head includes a write pole configured to generate a magnetization pattern, in the magnetic storage layer, that overlaps with the thermal profile in the magnetic storage layer. The write pole includes a non-uniform surface that faces the magnetic storage layer, the non-uniform surface configured to cause a portion of the magnetization pattern to be approximately linear.

An apparatus includes an input coupler configured to receive light excited by a light source. A near-field transducer (NFT) is positioned at a media-facing surface of a write head. A layered waveguide is positioned between the input coupler and the NFT and configured to receive the light output from the input coupler in a transverse electric (TE) mode and deliver the light to the NFT in a transverse magnetic (TM) mode. The layered waveguide comprises a first layer extending along a light-propagation direction. The first layer is configured to receive light from the input coupler. The first layer tapers from a first cross track width to a second cross track width where the second cross track width is narrower than the first cross track width. The layered waveguide includes a second layer that is disposed on the first layer. The second layer has a cross sectional area in a plane perpendicular to the light propagation direction that increases along the light propagation direction. The cross sectional area of the second layer is smaller proximate to the input coupler and larger proximate to the NFT.

A magnetic medium is described which includes a thin film magnet structure formed of a ferromagnetic alloy or compound. The thin film magnet structure includes one or more ferromagnetic domains and is coupled to one or more optical structures. Each of the one or more ferromagnetic domains have a magnetization that is switchable between two or more states. Each of the one or more optical structures is configured to increase absorbance of light at a target wavelength in the thin film magnet structure, such that in response to illumination of a ferromagnetic domain with continuous-wave light including the target wavelength, that ferromagnetic domain undergoes all-optical magnetic switching.

An apparatus, according to one embodiment, comprises a near field transducer; an adhesion layer on a media facing side of the near field transducer, the adhesion layer comprising Ni and Cr; and a protective layer on a media facing side of the adhesion layer. Other apparatuses, systems and methods are described in additional embodiments.

An apparatus includes a waveguide that delivers energy from an energy source, a write pole located proximate the waveguide at a media-facing surface, and a near-field transducer located proximate the write pole in a down track direction. The near-field transducer includes an enlarged portion and a peg extending from the enlarged portion towards the media-facing surface. The peg comprises a taper facing away from the write pole, and the taper causes a reduced down track dimension of the peg near the media-facing surface.

A storage device disclosed herein stores data on a storage media using interlaced magnetic recording (IMR) and it includes a storage controller configured to determine power levels applied to the power source such that power levels applied to heat various tracks can be different from each other. An implementation of the storage device determines the track density, linear densities and power levels for even and odd tracks in IMR HAMR for the storage media.

A storage device disclosed herein stores data on a storage media using interlaced magnetic recording (IMR) and it includes a storage controller configured to determine power levels applied to the power source such that power levels applied to heat various tracks can be different from each other. An implementation of the storage device determines the track density, linear densities and power levels for even and odd tracks in IMR HAMR for the storage media.

A storage device includes a transducer head including a first write element configured to write data at a first write width and a second write element configured to write data at a second write width less than the first write width. According to one implementation, the first write element writes data at a first linear density and to alternating data tracks and the second write element writes data at a second linear density and to data tracks interlaced with the alternating data tracks.

A storage device includes a storage medium having a plurality of data tracks. At least one data track of the plurality of data tracks includes a number of super parity sectors. The number of super parity sectors selected for the at least one data tracks is selected based on a distance between an inner diameter of the storage medium and the data track. The number of super parity sectors provides error correction code for the at least one data track.

An apparatus, according to one embodiment, comprises a near field transducer; an adhesion layer on a media facing side of the near field transducer, the adhesion layer comprising Ni and Cr; and a protective layer on a media facing side of the adhesion layer. Other apparatuses, systems and methods are described in additional embodiments.