Patent ID: 8179628
Filing Date: 2012-05-15
Classification: B82Y,G02B,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; a source of electromagnetic radiation; a waveguide for directing said electromagnetic radiation to a magnetic core plasmon antenna, said magnetic core plasmon antenna being formed as a variable thickness plasmon generating layer of conducting material conformally covering at least two opposing sides of a shaped magnetic core, wherein said waveguide couples said electromagnetic radiation to a plasmon mode generated within a region of said antenna adjacent to said waveguide; whereby said plasmon generating layer is thinnest at an ABS of said magnetic core plasmon antenna; and said plasmon generating layer is thickest within said region adjacent to said waveguide; whereby said plasmon antenna transfers energy generated by said plasmon mode to a localized region of said magnetic recording medium, thereby heating said localized region and reducing its magnetic coercivity and anisotropy; and wherein said magnetic core of said plasmon antenna directs said magnetic field onto said localized region, whereby the strength and gradient of said magnetic field within said localized region, combined with the thermal energy profile of said transferred plasmon mode thermal energy creates optimal conditions for writing within said region of reduced magnetic coercivity and anisotropy.