Double shell writers

1. An apparatus comprising:

a return pole (RP) having a first RP magnetic layer, a second RP magnetic layer, and a RP non-magnetic layer, the RP non-magnetic layer separating and magnetically decoupling the RP first and second magnetic layers; and

a shield having a first shield magnetic layer, a second shield magnetic layer, and a shield non-magnetic layer, the shield non-magnetic layer separating and magnetically decoupling the shield first and second magnetic layers, the shield first magnetic layer and the RP first magnetic layer forming a continuous piece of magnetic material that is interposed in between a bearing surface of the apparatus and the non-magnetic layers,

wherein the first shield magnetic layer, the second shield magnetic layer and the shield non-magnetic layer are parallel to the bearing surface in a portion of the apparatus where the first shield magnetic layer is interposed between the bearing surface and the shield non-magnetic layer.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the return pole first magnetic layer and the shield first magnetic layer are magnetically coupled to form a portion of an outer shell, wherein the return pole second magnetic layer and the shield second magnetic layer are magnetically coupled to form a portion of an inner shell, wherein the return pole non-magnetic layer and the shield non-magnetic layer separate and magnetically decouple the portion of the inner shell and the portion of the outer shell, and wherein the return pole and the shield non-magnetic layers form a continuous piece of non-magnetic material that is covered by the outer shell.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising:

a second return pole having a first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer, and a non-magnetic layer, the second return pole non-magnetic layer separating and magnetically decoupling the second return pole first and second magnetic layers; and

a second shield having a first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer, and a non-magnetic layer, the second shield non-magnetic layer separating and magnetically decoupling the second shield first and second magnetic layers.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the second return pole first magnetic layer and the second shield first magnetic layer are magnetically coupled to form a second portion of the outer shell, wherein the second return pole second magnetic layer and the second shield second magnetic layer are magnetically coupled to form a second portion of the inner shell, and wherein the second return pole non-magnetic layer and the second shield non-magnetic layer separate and magnetically decouple the second portion of the inner shell and the second portion of the outer shell.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the shield is a leading edge shield, and wherein the second shield is a trailing edge shield.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising:

a second trailing edge shield.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the second trailing edge shield has a first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer, and a non-magnetic layer, the second trailing edge shield non-magnetic layer separating and magnetically decoupling the second trailing shield first and second magnetic layers.

8. The apparatus of claim 4 , further comprising:

at least one side shield between the shield and the second shield.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the at least one side shield has a first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer, and a non-magnetic layer, the at least one side shield non-magnetic layer separating and magnetically decoupling the at least one side shield first and second magnetic layers.

10. A recording head comprising:

an outer magnetic shell;

a write pole;

an inner magnetic shell between the outer magnetic shell and the write pole;

a bearing surface; and

a non-magnetic layer that magnetically decouples the inner and the outer magnetic shells, and that is separated from the bearing surface by the outer magnetic shell that is interposed directly between the bearing surface and the non-magnetic layer,

wherein the inner magnetic shell is separated from the bearing surface by the outer magnetic shell and the non-magnetic layer, and wherein no portion of either the inner magnetic shell or the non-magnetic layer is exposed at the bearing surface.

11. The recording head of claim 10 , further comprising:

a leading yoke between the write pole and the inner magnetic shell.

12. The recording head of claim 10 , further comprising:

a trailing yoke between the write pole and the inner magnetic shell.

13. The recording head of claim 10 , further comprising:

a split yoke between the write pole and the inner magnetic shell.

14. The recording head of claim 10 , further comprising:

a shield having an inner magnetic layer, an outer magnetic layer, and a non-magnetic layer, the non-magnetic layer being in between the shield inner and outer magnetic layers.

15. An apparatus comprising:

a recording head magnetization coil;

a recording head yoke;

a bearing surface; and

a multi-layered structure, parallel to the bearing surface, configured to collect magnetization coil flux and yoke flux, the structure being placed at least partially around the recording head magnetization coil and the recording head yoke,

wherein only one layer of the multi-layered structure is exposed at the bearing surface, and

wherein the multi-layered structure comprises an inner shell, an outer shell and a non-magnetic layer between the inner shell and the outer shell, the outer shell being the only one layer exposed at the bearing surface, and

wherein the inner shell, the non-magnetic layer and the outer shell are interposed between the recording head magnetization coil and the bearing surface in a portion of the multi-layered structure that is parallel to the bearing surface.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the inner and the outer shells include portions of a return pole.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the inner and the outer shells include portions of a shield that comprises layers parallel to the bearing surface.