Heat-assisted magnetic recording with shaped magnetic and thermal fields to minimize transition curvature
Devices and methods are provided for heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR). In an illustrative example, a device includes a magnetic write pole having a convex pole tip; a magnetic opposing pole longitudinally displaced from the magnetic write pole; and a thermal-source component disposed proximate to the magnetic write pole and comprising a laterally elongated thermal-source peg disposed proximate to the convex pole tip.
1. A device comprising:
a magnetic write pole;
a magnetic opposing pole longitudinally displaced from the magnetic write pole; and
a thermal-source component disposed proximate to the magnetic write pole and comprising a thermal-source peg with a concave trailing edge that faces the magnetic write pole such that a center of the concave trailing edge is longitudinally displaced away from the write pole relative to sides of the concave trailing edge.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the thermal-source peg is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the thermal source peg forms at least part of a near field transducer.
4. The device of claim 3 , further comprising a solid immersion mirror, wherein the near field transducer is disposed adjacent to the solid immersion mirror.
5. The device of claim 3 , further comprising a solid immersion lens, wherein the near field transducer is disposed adjacent to the solid immersion lens.
6. The device of claim 1 wherein the thermal-source peg further comprises a straight leading edge opposite the concave trailing edge.
7. The device of claim 1 wherein the thermal-source peg is a made of a solid material.
8. The device of claim 7 , wherein the thermal-source peg is composed at least partly of one or more of gold, silver, copper, or aluminum.
9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic write pole provides a saturation magnetization of greater than 1.6 tesla.
10. The device of claim 1 wherein the thermal-source peg produces a straight and narrow transition curvature for a thermal spot.
11. A device comprising:
a magnetic write pole having a magnetic pole tip with an ellipsoidal pole tip face oriented in a forward longitudinal direction;
a magnetic opposing pole disposed at a forward longitudinal displacement from the magnetic write pole; and
a near field transducer disposed proximate to the magnetic write pole, comprising a near field transducer peg disposed proximate to the pole tip, wherein the near field transducer peg is elongated along a lateral dimension orthogonal to the longitudinal dimension and has an interior constructed from material.
12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the near field transducer peg comprises a concave surface proximate to and facing the magnetic pole tip.
13. The device of claim 11 wherein a center of the concave surface is disposed at a forward longitudinal displacement relative to sides of the concave surface.
14. The device of claim 11 , wherein the near field transducer peg comprises a flat surface proximate to and facing the magnetic pole tip.
15. The device of claim 11 , wherein the near field transducer peg comprises dual distal nanorods proximate to and facing the magnetic pole tip, wherein the nanorods define a gap between them proximate to the magnetic pole tip.
16. The device of claim 11 , wherein the transducer peg is composed at least partly of one or more of gold, silver, copper, or aluminum.
17. The device of claim 11 wherein the transducer peg produces a relatively straight and narrow curvature for a thermal spot.
18. The device of claim 11 , wherein the near field transducer is disposed proximate to a solid immersion mirror comprising one or more of silicon, titanium, oxide, nitride, or sulfide.
19. A process comprising:
positioning a magnetic recording head proximate to and in motion relative to a magnetic recording medium, wherein the direction of the relative motion of the magnetic recording head defines a down-track direction;
emitting optical energy from an optical source comprising a solid thermal source peg on the magnetic recording head onto the magnetic recording medium with an isothermal footprint that has a greater length in a cross-track direction than in the down-track direction, thereby temporarily reducing the magnetic coercivity of a heated portion of the magnetic recording medium; and
generating a magnetic field between a convex magnetic write pole positioned proximate to the optical source on the magnetic recording head, and a magnetic opposing pole disposed on the magnetic recording head, wherein the magnetic field passes through the heated portion of the magnetic recording medium.
20. The process of claim 19 , further comprising emitting the optical energy using a means for providing that an isothermal profile of the heated portion has a trailing edge, relative to the motion of the magnetic recording head, that is relatively straight, relative to a remaining portion of the isothermal profile.