IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,657,836
Granted Patent B2
US 11,657,836 · App. 17/649,246 · Granted May 23, 2023

Magnetic recording devices having negative polarization layer to enhance spin-transfer torque

Inventors: James Mac Freitag (Sunnyvale, CA); Susumu Okamura (San Jose, CA); Alexander Goncharov (Morgan Hill, CA); Zheng Gao (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
G11B5/1278G11B5/02G11B5/23G11B5/313G11B5/314G11B5/315G11B5/3133G11B5/3146
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,657,836
App. No.
17/649,246
Granted
May 23, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to a magnetic recording head of a spintronic device, such as a write head of a data storage device, for example a magnetic media drive. In one example, a magnetic recording head includes a main pole, a trailing shield, and a spin torque layer (STL) between the main pole and the trailing shield. The magnetic recording head includes a first layer structure on the main pole, and the first layer structure includes a negative polarization layer. The magnetic recording head also includes a second layer structure disposed on the negative polarization layer and between the negative polarization layer and the STL. The negative polarization layer is an FeCr layer. The second layer structure includes a Cr layer disposed on the FeCr layer, and a Cu layer disposed on the Cr layer and between the Cr layer and the STL.

Claims (41)

1. A magnetic recording head, comprising:

a main pole;

a trailing shield;

a spin torque layer (STL) disposed between the main pole and the trailing shield; and

a multilayer structure disposed between the STL and the trailing shield, the multilayer structure comprising:

a first layer structure disposed on the STL, wherein the first layer structure comprises:

a first layer disposed on the STL; and

a second layer disposed on the first layer; and

a second layer structure disposed on the first layer structure, where the second layer structure comprises a negative polarization layer contacting the trailing shield.

2. The magnetic recording head of claim 1 , further comprising a spacer layer disposed between the main pole and the STL.

3. The magnetic recording head of claim 1 , wherein the second layer structure comprises a ferromagnetic layer.

4. The magnetic recording head of claim 3 , wherein the ferromagnetic layer is disposed on a Cu layer.

5. The magnetic recording head of claim 1 , wherein the negative polarization layer comprises one or more of Fe, Cr, N, Co, or Gd.

6. The magnetic recording head of claim 1 , wherein the first layer structure has a first thickness of between about 3 nm and about 8 nm.

7. The magnetic recording head of claim 1 , wherein the second layer structure has a second thickness of between about 3 nm and about 10 nm.

8. The magnetic recording head of claim 1 , wherein the negative polarization layer comprises FeCr.

9. The magnetic recording head of claim 1 , wherein the first layer structure comprises a Cr layer; and a Cu layer disposed on the Cr layer.

10. The magnetic recording head of claim 1 , wherein the second layer comprises a material having a negative interface polarization factor.

11. The magnetic recording head of claim 10 , wherein each of the first layer and the second layer comprise one or more of Cr or Cu.

12. A magnetic recording device comprising the magnetic recording head of claim 1 .

13. A magnetic recording head, comprising:

a main pole;

a trailing shield;

a spin torque layer (STL) disposed between the main pole and the trailing shield; and

a multilayer structure disposed on the STL between the STL and the trailing shield, wherein the multilayer structure comprises:

an FeCr layer disposed between the STL and the trailing shield, the FeCr layer contacting the trailing shield;

a Cr layer disposed on the FeCr layer; and

a Cu layer disposed on the Cr layer and between the Cr layer and the STL.

14. The magnetic recording head of claim 13 , wherein the FeCr layer has a thickness of between about 3 nm and about 6 nm.

15. The magnetic recording head of claim 13 , wherein the Cr layer has a thickness of between about 0.5 nm and about 1.5 nm, and the Cu layer has a thickness of between about 1.5 nm and about 7.5 nm.

16. The magnetic recording head of claim 15 , wherein the Cu layer has a thickness of between about 1.5 nm and about 2.5 nm.

17. A magnetic recording device comprising the magnetic recording head of claim 13 .

18. A magnetic recording head, comprising:

a main pole;

a trailing shield;

a spin torque layer (STL) disposed between the main pole and the trailing shield;

at least one negative polarization layer disposed between the STL and the trailing shield, the at least one negative polarization layer contacting the trailing shield and comprising a magnetic material;

a first layer disposed between the negative polarization layer and the STL, the first layer comprising a material having a negative interface polarization factor; and

a second layer disposed between the first layer and the STL.

19. The magnetic recording head of claim 18 , wherein at least two of the following layers comprise Cr: the at least one negative polarization layer, the first layer, and the second layer.

20. A magnetic recording device comprising the magnetic recording head of claim 18 .

Assignments (3)
PATENT COLLATERAL AGREEMENT - A&R LOAN AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 21, 2023
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 064715/0001 →
PATENT COLLATERAL AGREEMENT - DDTL LOAN AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 21, 2023
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 067045/0156 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 28, 2022
From: FREITAG, JAMES MAC; OKAMURA, SUSUMU; GONCHAROV, ALEXANDER; GAO, ZHENG
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 058812/0131 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 16912509 · Jun 25, 2020
Related Publication 20220148619A1 · May 12, 2022