Patent ID: 8213272
Filing Date: 2012-07-03
Classification: G02B,G11B

Abstract:
1. A thermally-assisted magnetic recording head comprising, in an element-formation surface of a substrate: a write head element for writing data into a magnetic recording medium; and a waveguide for guiding light to the magnetic recording medium side, said waveguide comprising a multilayered structure in which refractive indexes of layers having a surface contact with each other are different from each other, the multilayered structure being divided into a plurality of groups, and a length from an end surface on light-receiving side of the waveguide to an end surface on light-emitting side of one group being different from that of the neighboring group, and a protruded end surface on the light-emitting side of a first group defined as a group that has the largest length including a center of a light-emitting spot of light propagating through the waveguide.