Patent ID: 8169731
Filing Date: 2012-05-01
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
1. A near-field light transducer formed of a silver alloy and comprising an edge, the edge comprising a portion to be coupled with a light in a surface plasmon mode, extending from the portion to a near-field light generating end surface from which near-field light is emitted, and configured to propagate surface plasmon excited by the light, and a curvature radius of the edge that is rounded being 6.25 nanometers or more and being 20 nanometers or less, wherein the silver alloy is selected from a group of (a) a silver-palladium alloy having a concentration of palladium of 0.1 atomic percent or more, and 7.5 atomic percent or less, (b) a silver-gold alloy having a concentration of gold of 0.1 atomic percent or more, and 5 atomic percent or less, (c) a silver-copper alloy, having a concentration of copper of 0.15 atomic percent or more, and 8 atomic percent or less, (d) a silver-ruthenium alloy having a concentration of ruthenium of 0.15 atomic percent or more, and 5 atomic percent or less, (e) a silver-rhodium alloy having a concentration of rhodium of 0.2 atomic percent or more, and 5.5 atomic percent or less, and (f) a silver-iridium alloy having a concentration of iridium of 0.2 atomic percent or more, and 8 atomic percent or less.