A data writer may be constructed and operated as part of a data storage device. The data writer can be positioned proximal a data storage medium. The data writer may have a write pole positioned adjacent a writer coil with the writer coil having a plurality of turns. A controller that is connected to each turn can be adapted to selectively activate less than all the coil turns in response to the data writer being positioned over a first portion of a data storage medium and selectively activate all of the coil turns in response to the data writer being positioned over a second portion of the data storage medium.

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 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 thin-film magnetic head includes a coil, a magnetic path forming section, and an insulating film. The magnetic path forming section includes first and second magnetic material portions. The coil includes first and second coil elements located between the first and second magnetic material portions. The insulating film includes an underlying portion located under the first and second coil elements. In a method of manufacturing the thin-film magnetic head, the insulating film is formed to cover the first and second magnetic material portions, and then a seed layer is formed selectively on the underlying portion of the insulating film. The coil is formed by plating using the seed layer.

An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes a write transducer having: a bottom yoke, a top yoke, a nonmagnetic write gap positioned between the top and bottom yokes, a bottom pole extending from the bottom yoke toward the write gap, and a top pole extending from the top yoke toward the write gap. A width of a media facing side of the bottom pole is about the same as a width of a media facing side of the top pole. The media facing side of the bottom pole is aligned with the media facing side of the top pole along a thickness direction. A method, according to one embodiment, includes performing bidirectional writing to a magnetic recording tape using a write transducer as described above.

An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes a write transducer having: a bottom yoke, a top yoke, a nonmagnetic write gap positioned between the top and bottom yokes, a bottom pole extending from the bottom yoke toward the write gap, and a top pole extending from the top yoke toward the write gap. A width of a media facing side of the bottom pole is about the same as a width of a media facing side of the top pole. The media facing side of the bottom pole is aligned with the media facing side of the top pole along a thickness direction. A method, according to one embodiment, includes performing bidirectional writing to a magnetic recording tape using a write transducer as described above.

A PMR writer with a true one turn design is disclosed with a driving coil above the main pole (MP) but where a bucking coil below the MP is replaced by a dummy metal layer or fully removed to substantially enhance the return field to the trailing shield. A non-double write shield scheme is employed where the leading loop for magnetic flux return is terminated at the leading shield. A tapered bottom yoke (tBY) contacts the MP bottom surface and has a tapered front side at height tBYd from the air bearing surface. Bottom yoke (BY) is below the tBY and has a front side at height BYd where BYd>tBYd. Reader-writer separation is reduced by 1-2 microns when the bucking coil is fully removed. Wide adjacent track erasures are controlled with a high damping material in one or more of the leading, side and trailing shields.

Disclosed herein are magnetic recording devices and methods of using them. A magnetic recording device comprises a main pole extending to an air-bearing surface (ABS), a trailing shield extending to the ABS, a write-field-enhancing structure disposed between and coupled to the main pole and the trailing shield at the ABS, a write coil configured to magnetize the main pole, a write current control circuit coupled to the write coil and configured to apply a write current to the write coil, wherein the write current comprises a write pulse, and a bias current control circuit coupled to the write-field-enhancing structure and configured to apply a bias current to the write-field-enhancing structure, wherein the bias current comprises a driving pulse offset in time from the write pulse by a delay, wherein the delay substantially coincides with an expected magnetization switch-time lag of a free layer of the write-field-enhancing structure.

A magnetic head includes a medium facing surface, a coil, a main pole, and a substrate. The main pole includes a first layer, and a second layer lying on the first layer. The first layer includes a thickness-changing portion whose dimension in a direction perpendicular to a top surface of the substrate decreases with decreasing distance to the medium facing surface. At least part of the second layer is located on the thickness-changing portion.

Disclosed herein are magnetic recording devices and methods of using them. A magnetic recording device comprises a main pole extending to an air-bearing surface (ABS), a trailing shield extending to the ABS, a write-field-enhancing structure disposed between and coupled to the main pole and the trailing shield at the ABS, a write coil configured to magnetize the main pole, a write current control circuit coupled to the write coil and configured to apply a write current to the write coil, wherein the write current comprises a write pulse, and a bias current control circuit coupled to the write-field-enhancing structure and configured to apply a bias current to the write-field-enhancing structure, wherein the bias current comprises a driving pulse offset in time from the write pulse by a delay, wherein the delay substantially coincides with an expected magnetization switch-time lag of a free layer of the write-field-enhancing structure.