3D optical data storage refers to forms of optical data storage in which information can be recorded and/or read with 3D resolution. 3D optical media are generally limited in areal density by the diffraction limit of laser light used to read and/or write data to and/or from the optical media. It is thus advantageous to find ways to store data on 3D optical media with a spot size below the diffraction limit of an associated laser reader to further increase areal density of the optical media. A hybrid approach that utilizes plasmon technology to access a surface layer of the 3D optical media with an extremely small spot size and photon technology to access interior layers of the 3D optical media with a larger spot size may substantially increase overall data density of the 3D optical media.

For irradiating a layer a radiation beam is directed and focussed to a spot on the layer, relative movement of the layer relative to the lens is caused so that, successively, different portions of the layer are irradiated and an interspace between a surface of the lens nearest to the layer is maintained. Furthermore, at least a portion of the interspace through which the radiation irradiates the spot on the layer is maintained filled with a liquid, the liquid being supplied via a supply conduit. At least a portion of the liquid fills up a recess through which the radiation irradiates the spot.

According to one embodiment, a head gimbal assembly includes a suspension and a magnetic head supported by the suspension via a gimbal portion. The magnetic head includes a slider and a head portion provided in the slider. The slider includes an air bearing surface, a pair of side surfaces, a leading-side end surface, and a trailing-side end surface. The slider includes a deep groove which is formed between the leading-side step portion and the trailing-side step portion and is open to the air bearing surface and the pair of side surfaces, and a pair of partition walls which extends from the trailing-side step portion toward the leading-side step portion along the pair of side surfaces to close at least a portion of a side surface opening of the deep groove.

According to one embodiment, a head gimbal assembly includes a suspension and a magnetic head supported by the suspension via a gimbal portion. The magnetic head includes a slider and a head portion provided in the slider. The slider includes an air bearing surface, a pair of side surfaces, a leading-side end surface, and a trailing-side end surface. The slider includes a deep groove which is formed between the leading-side step portion and the trailing-side step portion and is open to the air bearing surface and the pair of side surfaces, and a pair of partition walls which extends from the trailing-side step portion toward the leading-side step portion along the pair of side surfaces to close at least a portion of a side surface opening of the deep groove.

According to one embodiment, a head gimbal assembly includes a suspension and a magnetic head supported by the suspension via a gimbal portion. The magnetic head includes a slider and a head portion provided in the slider. The slider includes an air bearing surface, a pair of side surfaces, a leading-side end surface, and a trailing-side end surface. The slider includes a deep groove which is formed between the leading-side step portion and the trailing-side step portion and is open to the air bearing surface and the pair of side surfaces, and a pair of partition walls which extends from the trailing-side step portion toward the leading-side step portion along the pair of side surfaces to close at least a portion of a side surface opening of the deep groove.

According to one embodiment, a head gimbal assembly includes a suspension and a magnetic head supported by the suspension via a gimbal portion. The magnetic head includes a slider and a head portion provided in the slider. The slider includes an air bearing surface, a pair of side surfaces, a leading-side end surface, and a trailing-side end surface. The slider includes a deep groove which is formed between the leading-side step portion and the trailing-side step portion and is open to the air bearing surface and the pair of side surfaces, and a pair of partition walls which extends from the trailing-side step portion toward the leading-side step portion along the pair of side surfaces to close at least a portion of a side surface opening of the deep groove.

According to one embodiment, a head gimbal assembly includes a suspension and a magnetic head supported by the suspension via a gimbal portion. The magnetic head includes a slider and a head portion in the slider. The slider includes an air bearing surface, a pair of side surfaces, a leading-side end surface, and a trailing-side end surface. The slider includes a deep groove which is formed between a leading-side step portion and a trailing-side step portion and is open to the air bearing surface and the pair of side surfaces, and at least a pair of capturing grooves which is formed on a bottom surface of the deep groove. The capturing grooves are provided along the pair of side surface and are placed with a gap from the pair of side surfaces.

A magnetic recording method, system and apparatus are described to increasing areal density capability (ADC) for a data storage system, where in different data tracks were written with different write configurations or with different writers in a particular way that is optimized to improve areal density for a data storage device. In an aspect, the data tracks were labeled as bottom, middle or top tracks, the write order follows in a particular way among different tracks, middle and top tracks partially trim the previously written track from one side. The distance between neighboring tracks, or the percentage of track trimmed, depend on the labels they have and the drive architecture used, are different. The particular write order can be in sequential or can have a certain level of randomness as set by the drive. The write order for each operation depend on the label determined by the drive for a given drive capacity requirement. For the apparatus to enable such approach, additional alignment condition between readers, writer, heater and temperature sensor are also optimized to improve performance, areal density and reliability.

A magnetic recording method, system and apparatus are described to increasing areal density capability (ADC) for a data storage system, where in different data tracks were written with different write configurations or with different writers in a particular way that is optimized to improve areal density for a data storage device. In an aspect, the data tracks were labeled as bottom, middle or top tracks, the write order follows in a particular way among different tracks, middle and top tracks partially trim the previously written track from one side. The distance between neighboring tracks, or the percentage of track trimmed, depend on the labels they have and the drive architecture used, are different. The particular write order can be in sequential or can have a certain level of randomness as set by the drive. The write order for each operation depend on the label determined by the drive for a given drive capacity requirement. For the apparatus to enable such approach, additional alignment condition between readers, writer, heater and temperature sensor are also optimized to improve performance, areal density and reliability.

An apparatus comprises a slider configured for writing data to and reading data from a magnetic recording medium and for heat-assisted magnetic recording. The slider comprises a heater configured to receive an AC signal and to cause oscillation in a spacing between the slider and the medium, and a contact sensor situated on the slider and configured to produce a DC response signal. A detector is coupled to the slider and configured to measure an amplitude of a spike in the DC response signal, calculate a ratio between the spike amplitude and an amplitude of the DC response signal, and detect contact between the slider and the medium in response to the ratio exceeding a predetermined threshold.