Multiple aperture VCSEL EAMR heads
View Patent ↗A magnetic recording device comprises a multi-aperture vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) operably coupled to a magnetic recording head and a plurality of waveguides disposed in the magnetic recording head. Each of the plurality of waveguides has a first end coupled to a different aperture of the multi-aperture VCSEL. The magnetic recording device further comprises a near field transducer disposed in the magnetic recording head. Each of the plurality of waveguides has a second end coupled to the near field transducer.
1. A magnetic recording device, comprising:
a multi-aperture vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) operably coupled to a magnetic recording head;
a plurality of waveguides disposed in the magnetic recording head, each of the plurality of waveguides having a first end coupled to a different aperture of the multi-aperture VCSEL; and
a near field transducer disposed in the magnetic recording head,
wherein each of the plurality of waveguides has a second end coupled to the near field transducer.
2. The magnetic recording device according to claim 1 , wherein the multi-aperture VCSEL has two apertures.
3. The magnetic recording device according to claim 2 , wherein each of the two apertures has a different size, shape and/or orientation.
4. The magnetic recording device according to claim 3 , wherein each aperture is configured to provide laser light of a different polarization.
5. The magnetic recording device according to claim 1 , wherein one aperture of the multi-aperture VCSEL is separately switched from another aperture of the multi-aperture VCSEL.
6. The magnetic recording device according to claim 1 , wherein the magnetic recording head comprises a write pole, and wherein the plurality of waveguides include two waveguides on opposite sides of the write pole.
7. The magnetic recording device according to claim 6 , wherein the two waveguides are curvilinear.
8. The magnetic recording device according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of waveguides all have a same path length.
9. The magnetic recording device according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of waveguides taper towards the near field transducer.
10. The magnetic recording device according to claim 1 , wherein the magnetic recording head further comprises a write pole and a read pole, and wherein the near field transducer is disposed in a layer of the magnetic recording head between the write pole and the return pole.
11. The magnetic recording device according to claim 1 , wherein the near field transducer has at least a plurality of edges corresponding to the plurality of second ends of the plurality of waveguides.
12. The magnetic recording device according to claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of edges is perpendicular to a propagation direction of the corresponding second end.
13. The magnetic recording device according to claim 1 , wherein the near field transducer is coupled to at least two second ends on opposite sides of the near field transducer.
14. A method of using a magnetic recording device, comprising:
illuminating a plurality of waveguides disposed in a magnetic recording head with a corresponding plurality of apertures of a multi-aperture vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL), each of the plurality of waveguides having a second end coupled to a near field transducer of the magnetic recording head, whereby the near field transducer heats a region of magnetic recording media adjacent thereto; and
generating, with a write pole of the magnetic recording head, a magnetic field in the region of magnetic recording media to change a magnetic orientation thereof.
15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the multi-aperture VCSEL has two apertures.
16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein each of the two apertures has a different size, shape and/or orientation.
17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein each aperture is configured to provide laser light of a different polarization.
18. The method according to claim 14 , wherein one aperture of the multi-aperture VCSEL is separately switched from another aperture of the multi-aperture VCSEL.
19. The method according to claim 18 , wherein less than all of the plurality of apertures of the multi-aperture VCSEL are used when a temperature of the region of magnetic recording media is above a predetermined threshold.
20. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the plurality of waveguides include two waveguides on opposite sides of the write pole.
21. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the plurality of waveguides all have a same path length.