Near field transducer using dielectric waveguide core with fine ridge feature
An apparatus for energy assisted magnetic recording of a storage disk includes a plurality of dielectric waveguide cores disposed near an air bearing surface of a magnetic recording device. Each waveguide core has a fine ridge feature on a first surface of the waveguide core and configured to receive incident light energy from an energy source. A near field transducer (NFT) is formed at the air bearing surface for focusing light energy received from the waveguide core and transmitting the focused light energy onto the storage disk surface to generate a heating spot. The NFT includes at least one plasmonic metal element disposed above the fine ridge features of the waveguide cores to form an interface for delivering propagating surface plasmon polaritons (PSPPs) to the air bearing surface. Each fine ridge feature is configured with a width approximately equivalent to a width of the heating spot.
1. An apparatus for energy assisted magnetic recording of a storage disk, comprising:
a plurality of dielectric waveguide cores disposed near an air bearing surface of a magnetic recording device, each waveguide core comprising a fine ridge feature on a first surface of the waveguide core and configured to receive incident light energy from an energy source; and
a near field transducer formed at the air bearing surface for focusing light energy received from the waveguide core and transmitting the focused light energy onto the storage disk surface to generate a heating spot, comprising:
at least one plasmonic metal element disposed above the fine ridge features of the waveguide cores to form an interface for delivering propagating surface plasmon polaritons (PSPPs) to the air bearing surface;
wherein each fine ridge feature is configured with a width approximately equivalent to a width of the heating spot.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the interface comprises a gap between at least one plasmonic metal element and the fine ridge features of the waveguide cores.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein
each of the waveguide cores and corresponding fine ridge features is substantially linear and comprises a first end and a second end, and
the first ends of all fine ridge features are connected together at a junction point near the air bearing surface with at least a portion of the connected fine ridge features is exposed on the air bearing surface.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the junction point of the first ends further comprises a fine ridge feature extension configured perpendicular to the air bearing surface and exposed on the air bearing surface.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one plasmonic metal element is configured as a single element arranged to cover all of the fine ridge elements, the plasmonic metal element having a variable thickness and a substantially flat surface facing the fine ridge elements.
6. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the at least one plasmonic metal element is configured as a semi-circular disk having a straight edge aligned with the air bearing surface.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fine ridge feature is offset from the centerline of the waveguide core.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the waveguide cores comprises at least two fine ridge features on a common waveguide core surface.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the width of the heating spot is approximately equivalent to a width of physical space on the storage disk reserved for a single data bit.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the waveguide cores and the plasmonic metal element are encapsulated by a silicon oxide material.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least three waveguide cores and corresponding fine ridge features are arranged in a three dimensional configuration to interface with the at least one plasmonic metal element at the air bearing surface.
12. A magnetic hard disk drive, comprising:
a rotatable magnetic storage disk;
a laser diode;
a plurality of dielectric waveguide cores disposed near an air bearing surface of a magnetic recording device, each waveguide core comprising a fine ridge feature on a first surface of the waveguide core and configured to receive incident light energy from an energy source; and
a near field transducer formed at the air bearing surface for focusing light energy received from the waveguide core and transmitting the focused light energy onto the storage disk surface to generate a heating spot, comprising:
at least one plasmonic metal element disposed above the fine ridge features of the waveguide cores to form an interface for delivering propagating surface plasmon polaritons (PSPPs) to the air bearing surface;
wherein each fine ridge feature is configured with a width approximately equivalent to a width of the heating spot.