Heat-assisted magnetic recording head with optical spot-size converter fabricated in 2-dimensional waveguide

1. A magnetic recording head, comprising:

a spot size converter having a tapered portion, the tapered portion having at least one of a width and thickness that increases in a direction towards an air bearing surface;

a waveguide surrounding the spot size converter, the waveguide having a refractive index that is lower than a refractive index of the spot size converter; and

cladding adjacent the waveguide, the cladding having a refractive index that is lower than the refractive index of the waveguide,

wherein a thickness of the waveguide is 40 to 120% of a diameter of a spot size of light incident on the waveguide.

2. A magnetic recording head, comprising:

a spot size converter having a tapered portion, the tapered portion having at least one of a width and thickness that increases in a direction towards an air bearing surface;

a waveguide surrounding the spot size converter, the waveguide having a refractive index that is lower than a refractive index of the spot size converter; and

cladding adjacent the waveguide, the cladding having a refractive index that is lower than the refractive index of the waveguide,

wherein a lower part of the spot size converter positioned between the tapered portion and the air bearing surface has about a constant width therealong.

3. A magnetic recording head, comprising:

a spot size converter having a tapered portion, the tapered portion having at least one of a width and thickness that increases in a direction towards an air bearing surface;

a waveguide surrounding the spot size converter, the waveguide having a refractive index that is lower than a refractive index of the spot size converter; and

cladding adjacent the waveguide, the cladding having a refractive index that is lower than the refractive index of the waveguide,

wherein a portion of the spot size converter positioned between the tapered portion and an end of the head opposite the air bearing surface has about a constant width therealong.

4. A magnetic recording head, comprising:

a spot size converter having a tapered portion, the tapered portion having at least one of a width and thickness that increases in a direction towards an air bearing surface;

a waveguide surrounding the spot size converter, the waveguide having a refractive index that is lower than a refractive index of the spot size converter; and

cladding adjacent the waveguide, the cladding having a refractive index that is lower than the refractive index of the waveguide,

wherein the at least one of the width and thickness of the tapered portion of the spot size converter transitions from below a width and/or thickness producing a penetration mode to above the width and/or thickness producing the penetration mode in the direction towards the air bearing surface.

5. A magnetic recording head, comprising:

a spot size converter having a tapered portion, the tapered portion having at least one of a width and thickness that increases in a direction towards an air bearing surface;

a waveguide surrounding the spot size converter, the waveguide having a refractive index that is lower than a refractive index of the spot size converter; and

cladding adjacent the waveguide, the cladding having a refractive index that is lower than the refractive index of the waveguide,

further comprising at least one cover layer between the waveguide and the spot size converter, wherein the at least one cover layer has a lower refractive index than the spot size converter and the waveguide.

6. The magnetic recording head according to claim 5 , wherein the at least one cover layer includes a cover layer above the spot size converter.

7. The magnetic recording head according to claim 5 , wherein the at least one cover layer includes a cover layer below the spot size converter.

8. The magnetic recording head according to claim 5 , wherein the at least one cover layer surrounds the spot size converter.

9. The magnetic recording head according to claim 5 , wherein the at least one cover layer includes a cover layer adjacent the spot size converter in a width direction.

10. A magnetic recording head, comprising:

a spot size converter having a tapered portion, the tapered portion having at least one of a width and thickness that increases in a direction towards an air bearing surface;

a waveguide surrounding the spot size converter, the waveguide having a refractive index that is lower than a refractive index of the spot size converter;

cladding adjacent the waveguide, the cladding having a refractive index that is lower than the refractive index of the waveguide; and

at least one core on a side of the spot size converter and separated therefrom by a portion of the waveguide.

11. The magnetic recording head according to claim 10 , further comprising at least one cover layer between the waveguide and the at least one core, wherein the at least one cover layer has a lower refractive index than the at least one core and the waveguide.

12. A magnetic recording head, comprising:

a spot size converter having a tapered portion, the tapered portion having at least one of a width and thickness that increases in a direction towards an air bearing surface;

a waveguide surrounding the spot size converter, the waveguide having a refractive index that is lower than a refractive index of the spot size converter;

cladding adjacent the waveguide, the cladding having a refractive index that is lower than the refractive index of the waveguide; and

a thin core extending from a side of the head opposite the air bearing surface toward the air bearing surface, the thin core being separated from the spot size converter by a portion of the waveguide, the thin core having a width greater than a maximum width of the spot size converter.

13. The magnetic recording head according to claim 12 , wherein the thin core does not extend to the air bearing surface, wherein the spot size converter does not extend to the end of the head opposite the air bearing surface.

14. The magnetic recording head according to claim 12 , wherein the thin core does not extend to the air bearing surface, wherein the spot size converter extends to the end of the head opposite the air bearing surface.

15. A magnetic recording head, comprising:

a spot size converter having a tapered portion, the tapered portion having at least one of a width and thickness that increases in a direction towards an air bearing surface;

a waveguide surrounding the spot size converter, the waveguide having a refractive index that is lower than a refractive index of the spot size converter;

cladding adjacent the waveguide, the cladding having a refractive index that is lower than the refractive index of the waveguide; and

at least two thin cores each extending from a side of the head opposite the air bearing surface toward the air bearing surface, the thin cores sandwiching the spot size converter therebetween, the thin cores being separated from the spot size converter by portions of the waveguide, the thin cores each having a width greater than a maximum width of the spot size converter.

16. The magnetic recording head according to claim 15 , further comprising at least one cover layer between one or more of the thin cores and the spot size converter, wherein the at least one cover layer has a lower refractive index than the spot size converter and the thin cores.

17. The magnetic recording head according to claim 15 , wherein three to six thin cores are present.

18. A magnetic data storage system, comprising:

at least one magnetic recording head as recited in claim 1 ;

a magnetic medium;

a drive mechanism for passing the magnetic medium over the at least one magnetic head; and

a controller electrically coupled to the at least one magnetic head for controlling operation of the at least one magnetic head.