A method and system for providing an energy assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) disk drive are described. A media for storing data and a slider are provided. The slider has a back side, a trailing face, and an air-bearing surface (ABS) opposite to the back side. At least one laser is coupled with the trailing face of the slider, and has an optic axis substantially parallel to the trailing face. The laser(s) provide energy substantially along the optic axis. Optics are coupled with the trailing face of the slider and receive the energy from the laser(s) via free space. At least one EAMR transducer coupled with the slider. At least part of the EAMR transducer resides in proximity to the ABS. The optics direct the energy from the laser(s) to the EAMR transducer(s). The EAMR transducer(s) receive the energy from the optics and write to the media using the energy.

Method and system for optically coupling a laser with a transducer in an energy assisted magnetic recording disk drive

A tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) read sensor having a tabbed AFM layer and an extended pinned layer and methods for making the same are provided. The TMR read sensor has an AFM layer recessed from the air bearing surface, providing a reduced shield-to-shield distance.

Tunnel magnetoresistance read head with narrow shield-to-shield spacing

Systems and methods for mounting and aligning a laser in an electrically assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) assembly are described. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a submount assembly for a laser diode of an EAMR head, the submount assembly including a submount including a block shape including a first surface including a plurality of first conductive pads and a second surface including a second conductive pad, a laser including a main emitter and at least one alignment emitter, the laser having a block shape having a first surface including a plurality of first conductive pads attached to the first pads of the submount, and a slider including a top surface having a conductive pad configured to be attached to the second pad of the submount, wherein the at least one alignment emitter is configured to align the laser and the slider for attachment.

Systems and methods for mounting and aligning a laser in an electrically assisted magnetic recording assembly

This invention describes a novel tunnel magnetoresistive (TMR) deposition process that can enhance the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of a TMR reader. A method of manufacturing a tunnel magnetoresistive sensor includes providing a substrate; forming a first portion of a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) structure on the substrate; forming a second portion of the MTJ structure on the substrate; forming a tunnel barrier layer of the MTJ structure between the first portion and the second portion; heating the first portion of the MTJ structure before forming the tunnel barrier layer or after forming at least a portion of the tunnel barrier layer; and cooling the tunnel barrier layer.

Methods for manufacturing a magnetoresistive structure utilizing heating and cooling

A method and system for providing a magnetic recording transducer having a pole are disclosed. The pole has side(s), a bottom, and a top wider than the bottom. The method and system include providing at least one side gap layer that covers the side(s) and the top of the pole. At least one sacrificial layer is provided on the side gap layer(s). The sacrificial layer(s) are wet etchable and cover the side gap layer(s). The magnetic recording transducer is planarized after the sacrificial layer(s) are provided. Thus, a portion of the side gap and sacrificial layer(s) is removed. A remaining portion of the sacrificial layer(s) is thus left. The method and system also include wet etching the sacrificial layer(s) to remove the remaining portion of the sacrificial layer(s). A wrap around shield is provided after the remaining portion of the sacrificial layer(s) is removed.

Method and system for providing a perpendicular magnetic recording head

A method and system for providing an energy assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) head are described. The EAMR head includes a laser, a slider, and an EAMR transducer. The laser has a main emitter and at least one alignment emitter. The slider includes at least one alignment waveguide, at least one output device, and an air-bearing surface (ABS). The alignment waveguide(s) are aligned with the alignment emitter(s). The EAMR transducer is coupled with the slider and includes a waveguide aligned with main emitter. The waveguide is for directing energy from the main emitter toward the ABS.

Systems and methods for controlling light phase difference in interferometric waveguides at near field transducers by selectively heating the light source are provided. One such system for controlling light phase at the NFT of an interferometric waveguide includes a laser, a heater configured to heat the laser, a splitter configured to receive light from the laser and to split the light into a first waveguide arm and a second waveguide arm, the first waveguide arm and the second waveguide arm converging at a junction about opposite the splitter, and the NFT proximate the junction and configured to receive the light, where the first waveguide arm is longer than the second waveguide arm by a preselected distance, and where the heater is configured to generate and maintain a preselected phase difference in the light arriving at the NFT via the first waveguide arm and the second waveguide arm.

Systems and methods for controlling light phase difference in interferometric waveguides at near field transducers

Systems and methods for increasing media absorption efficiency using interferometric waveguides in information storage devices are described. One such system for an interferometric waveguide assembly includes a light source, a first waveguide arm and a second waveguide arm, a splitter configured to receive light from the light source and to split the light into the first waveguide arm and the second waveguide arm, and a near field transducer (NFT) configured to receive the light from the first waveguide arm and the second waveguide arm, where the first waveguide arm and the second waveguide arm converge to form a preselected angle at a junction about opposite the splitter, and where the first waveguide arm and the second waveguide arm are configured to induce a preselected phase difference in the light arriving at the NFT.

Systems and methods for increasing media absorption efficiency using interferometric waveguides

A structure for measuring energy absorption by a surface plasmon receptor or NFT on a waveguide comprises a first waveguide, a first input grating for coupling light comprising a first wavelength into the first waveguide, a first output grating for coupling light out of the first waveguide, a first plurality of surface plasmon receptors in cooperation with the first waveguide to receive light energy and located between the first input grating and the first output grating. The structure may further comprise a second waveguide, a second input grating for coupling light into the second waveguide, a second output grating for coupling light out of the second waveguide, a second plurality of surface plasmon receptors between the second input grating and the second output grating and in cooperation with the second waveguide to receive light energy, wherein the second plurality may be less than or greater than the first plurality.

Structure and method to measure waveguide power absorption by surface plasmon element

Improved pump-probe testing methods and apparatuses for measuring the performance of a plasmon element at wafer level are provided In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a light source configured to output a first light beam on a grating located at a first end of a waveguide, the waveguide being configured to couple energy of the first light beam to the plasmon element located at a second end of the waveguide, and an optical probe assembly positioned above a top surface of the wafer The optical probe assembly is configured to direct a second light beam on an area of the wafer including the plasmon element and detect a portion of the second light beam reflected from the area

Sergei Sochava

Papers

Method and system for optically coupling a laser with a transducer in an energy assisted magnetic recording disk drive

Systems and methods for controlling light phase difference in interferometric waveguides at near field transducers

Systems and methods for increasing media absorption efficiency using interferometric waveguides

Structure and method to measure waveguide power absorption by surface plasmon element

Methods and apparatuses for performing wafer level characterization of a plasmon element