Patent ID: 8169861
Filing Date: 2012-05-01
Classification: G02B,G11B

Abstract:
1. A thermally-assisted magnetic recording head comprising: a magnetic pole for generating write field from its end on an opposed-to-medium surface side; a waveguide through which a light for exciting surface plasmon propagates; and a plasmon generator provided between the magnetic pole and the waveguide, configured to be coupled with the light in a surface plasmon mode and to emit near-field light from a near-field light generating end surface positioned on the opposed-to-medium surface side, the plasmon generator comprising: a plasmon propagating part comprising a propagation edge extending to the near-field light generating end surface and configured to propagate thereon the surface plasmon excited by the light, at least a portion of the propagation edge being opposed to the waveguide with a predetermined distance; and a light penetration suppressing part formed of a material having an extinction coefficient greater than an extinction coefficient of a material that forms the plasmon propagating part, the light penetration suppressing part being in surface-contact with a surface portion of the plasmon propagating part, the surface portion excluding the propagation edge, and the magnetic pole being in surface-contact with the light penetration suppressing part.