Patent ID: 7957096
Filing Date: 2011-06-07
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
1. A perpendicular magnetic recording head comprising a main magnetic pole layer and a return yoke layer, the main magnetic pole layer and the return yoke layer being laminated with a magnetic gap layer interposed therebetween on a medium-opposing surface, the perpendicular magnetic recording head further comprising: a nonmagnetic throat height determining layer, made of a nonmagnetic metal plating layer, having a front end face parallel to the medium-opposing surface at a position retracted from the medium-opposing surface to the deeper side in a height direction; and a return yoke reinforcement layer made of a magnetic material having a saturated magnetic flux density higher than that of the return yoke layer and formed directly under the return yoke layer so as to extend at least from the front end face of the nonmagnetic throat height determining layer to an upper face thereof; wherein the return yoke reinforcement layer is exposed at the medium-opposing surface between the magnetic gap layer and return yoke layer.