Patent ID: 8599656
Filing Date: 2013-12-03
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
1. A TAMR (thermally assisted magnetic recording) head, comprising: a magnetic write pole which, when energized, produces a magnetic field for writing on a magnetic recording medium rotating beneath an ABS end; a source of electromagnetic radiation; a waveguide for directing said electromagnetic radiation; a planar plasmon generator adjacent to said waveguide and separated from said waveguide by a gap; wherein said planar plasmon generator further comprises: a first layer adjacent to said waveguide and separated from said waveguide by a dielectric-filled gap, wherein a surface plasmon mode is excited by evanescent coupling to an optical mode in said waveguide; a second layer formed between said first layer and a third layer, wherein said second layer suppresses unwanted plasmon modes in said first layer and further acts as a heat sink; the third layer, formed contacting said second layer and abutting a side of said magnetic pole facing said waveguide; and a peg formed at an ABS end of said first layer of said planar plasmon generator, wherein a near field portion of said propagating surface plasmon mode is confined to a region within a recording medium beneath and immediately surrounding said peg and whereby said near field transfers energy to said region within said recording medium and whereby said recording medium is heated, thereby facilitating a recording process.