Near field transducer anneal for heat assisted magnetic recording
A method for annealing a metal antenna of a near field optical transducer of a magnetic write element without inadvertently heat damaging the read element. A heating element is placed within a write head build in a cerf region outside of the active area of the read and write heads. A layer of thermally conductive, electrically insulating material is formed over the heating element to separate the heating element from the antenna. The thermally conductive, electrically insulating layer is preferably in contact with the antenna. A current can be applied to the heating element to heat the antenna to a temperature that is at or above the operating temperature of the optical transducer. After annealing, the heater element can be removed by the lapping process that is used to define the media facing surface of the head.
1. A magnetic recording head, comprising:
a write element including a magnetic write pole and a near field optical transducer having a metal antenna located at a media facing surface and having a leading edge surface at a side opposite the write pole; and
a layer of thermally conductive, electrically insulating material having a thermal conductivity greater than that of alumina contacting the leading edge surface of the metal antenna.
2. The magnetic recording head as in claim 1 , wherein the thermally conductive, electrically insulating material comprises SiC.
3. The magnetic recording head as in claim 1 , the magnetic recording head further comprising a waveguide material that is at least partially surrounded by a cladding material connected with the near field optical transducer, and wherein the layer of thermally conductive, electrically insulating material is in contact with a portion of the cladding material.
4. The magnetic recording head as in claim 1 , wherein the metal antenna comprises Au.
5. The magnetic recording head as in claim 1 , wherein the metal antenna comprises an Au alloy.
6. The magnetic recording head as in claim 1 wherein the layer of thermally conductive, electrically insulating material has a thermal conductivity at least as great as that of SiC.
7. A magnetic data recording system, comprising:
a housing;
a magnetic media mounted within the housing;
a magnetic recording head formed within the housing, the magnetic recording head being connected with an actuator for moving the magnetic recording head relative to a surface of the magnetic media; and wherein the magnetic recording head further comprises;
a read element; and
a write element including a magnetic write pole and a near field optical transducer having a metal antenna located at a media facing surface and having a leading edge surface at a side opposite the write pole; and
a layer of thermally conductive, electrically insulating material having a thermal conductivity greater than alumina contacting the leading edge surface of the metal antenna.