Waveguide with optical isolator for heat-assisted magnetic recording
An apparatus includes a substrate. A laser is formed on a non-self supporting structure and bonded to the substrate. A waveguide having a gap portion is deposited proximate the laser. The waveguide is configured to communicate light from the laser to a near-field transducer (NFT) that directs energy resulting from plasmonic excitation to a recording medium. An optical isolator is disposed over the gap portion.
1. An apparatus, comprising:
a substrate;
a laser formed on a non-self supporting structure and bonded to the substrate;
a waveguide having a gap portion deposited proximate the laser on the substrate, the waveguide configured to communicate light from the laser to a near-field transducer (NFT) that directs energy resulting from plasmonic excitation to a recording medium; and
an optical isolator integrated over the gap portion.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the optical isolator comprises a magneto-optical film.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising a magnet deposited over at least a portion of the magneto-optical film.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising one or more cladding layers surrounding the waveguide and the optical isolator.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the optical isolator comprises a Faraday rotator.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the Faraday rotator is configured to rotate the light about 45 degrees.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the laser is configured to deliver a substantially transverse electric (TE) mode light to the waveguide.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the optical isolator is configured to convert light received from the laser to a combined TE and transverse magnetic (TM) mode.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the waveguide comprises a mode converter configured to convert the combined TE and TM mode light to substantially TM mode light.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the waveguide is configured to deliver the substantially TM mode light to the NFT.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising a mode stripper, wherein TM mode light reflected into the waveguide in a direction opposite the light delivered to the NFT is prevented from reaching the laser by the optical isolator and the mode stripper.
12. An apparatus, comprising:
a substrate forming part of a slider body;
a laser formed on a non-self supporting structure and bonded to the substrate;
a waveguide deposited proximate the laser on the substrate, the waveguide having a gap portion within the slider body where the waveguide is configured to communicate light from the laser to a near-field transducer (NFT) that directs energy resulting from plasmonic excitation to a recording medium; and
an optical isolator disposed over the gap portion and integrated within the slider body.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the optical isolator comprises a magneto-optical film.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising a magnet deposited over at least a portion of the magneto-optical film.
15. The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising one or more cladding layers surrounding the waveguide and the optical isolator.
16. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the optical isolator comprises a Faraday rotator.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the Faraday rotator is configured to rotate the light about 45 degrees.
18. The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising a mode stripper, wherein TM mode light reflected into the waveguide in a direction opposite the light delivered to the NFT is prevented from reaching the laser by the optical isolator and the mode stripper.