Heat-assisted magnetic recording device incorporating laser heater for improved laser stability
An apparatus comprises a slider configured to facilitate heat assisted magnetic recording and a submount affixed to the slider. A laser unit is affixed to the submount and comprises a laser operable in a non-lasing state and a lasing state. A heater is embedded in the laser unit or the submount. The heater is configured to generate preheat for heating the laser during the non-lasing state and to generate steering heat for heating the laser during the lasing state.
1. An apparatus, comprising:
a slider configured to facilitate heat assisted magnetic recording;
a submount affixed to the slider;
a laser unit affixed to the submount and comprising a laser operable in a non-lasing state and a lasing state; and
a heater embedded in the laser unit or the submount, the heater configured to generate preheat for heating the laser during the non-lasing state and to generate steering heat for heating the laser during the lasing state.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the heater is configured to generate the preheat and the steering heat to avoid a temperature associated with power instability of the laser when in the lasing state during a write operation.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the heater is separated from the laser by a spacing ranging from about 2 μm to about 120 μm.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the heater is embedded in the laser unit and separated from the laser by a spacing ranging from about 2 μm to about 25 μm.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the heater is embedded in the laser unit and separated from the laser by a spacing ranging from about 30 μm to about 70 μm.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the heater is embedded in the submount and separated from the laser by a spacing ranging from about 40 μm to about 120 μm.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
a first heater is embedded in the laser unit and a second heater is embedded in the submount; and
the first and second heaters are configured to generate preheat for heating the laser during the non-lasing state and to generate steering heat for heating the laser during the lasing state.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the heater comprises a resistive wire.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the laser comprises a laser stripe; and
the heater and the laser stripe are disposed on the same surface of the laser unit.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the laser comprises a laser stripe; and
the heater and the laser stripe are disposed on opposing surfaces of the laser unit.
11. An apparatus, comprising:
a slider configured to facilitate heat assisted magnetic recording;
a submount affixed to the slider;
a laser unit affixed to the submount and comprising a laser operable in a non-lasing state and a lasing state;
a heater embedded in the laser unit or the submount; and
control circuitry coupled the laser unit and the heater, the control circuitry configured to cause the heater to generate preheat for heating the laser during the non-lasing state and to cause the heater to generate steering heat for heating the laser during the lasing state.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to cause the heater to generate the preheat and the steering heat to avoid a temperature associated with power instability of the laser when in the lasing state during a write operation.
13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the heater is embedded in the laser unit and separated from the laser by a spacing ranging from about 2 μm to about 25 μm.
14. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the heater is embedded in the laser unit and separated from the laser by a spacing ranging from about 30 μm to about 70 μm.
15. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the heater is embedded in the submount and separated from the laser by a spacing ranging from about 40 μm to about 120 μm.
16. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein:
a first heater is embedded in the laser unit and a second heater is embedded in the submount; and
the first and second heaters are configured to generate preheat for heating the laser during the non-lasing state and to generate steering heat for heating the laser during the lasing state.
17. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the heater comprises a resistive wire.
18. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the laser comprises a laser stripe.
19. A method, comprising:
moving a slider relative to a magnetic recording medium, the slider configured for heat assisted magnetic recording and comprising a submount to which a laser unit is affixed;
operating a laser of the laser unit in a non-lasing state and a lasing state; and
controlling a heater embedded in the laser unit or the submount to generate preheat for heating the laser during the non-lasing state and to generate steering heat for heating the laser during the lasing state.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein controlling the heater comprises causing the heater to generate the preheat and the steering heat to avoid a temperature associated with power instability of the laser when in the lasing state during a write operation.