Patent ID: 9165581
Filing Date: 2015-10-20
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
1. A thermally assisted magnetic recording head, comprising: a near-field light (NF light) generator that has a generator end surface facing an air bearing surface (ABS), and that generates NF light on the generator end surface and irradiates a magnetic recording medium with the NF light; a main magnetic pole that includes a main magnetic pole end surface positioned in the vicinity of the generator end surface, and that emits a magnetic flux to the magnetic recording medium from the main magnetic pole end surface; and a return shield that includes a shield end surface positioned in the vicinity of the generator end surface, that is magnetically coupled to the main magnetic pole, and that absorbs the magnetic flux returning from the magnetic recording medium at the shield end surface, wherein the main magnetic pole and the return shield are positioned to be on the same side of the NF light generator in a down track direction, and the NF light generator does not overlap with the main magnetic pole either in the down track direction or in a cross track direction.