Abstract:
An energy assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) transducer coupled with a laser is described. The EAMR transducer has an air-bearing surface (ABS) residing near a media during use. The laser provides energy. The transducer includes a waveguide, a near field transducer (NFT) proximate to the ABS, a write pole and at least one coil. The waveguide directs the energy from the laser toward the ABS. The NFT is optically coupled with the waveguide and focuses the energy onto a region of the media. The write pole writes to the region of the media. The write pole has a magnetic portion and a nonmagnetic liner. The magnetic portion has a plurality of sides and a pole thermal conductivity. The nonmagnetic liner is adjacent to at least the sides of the magnetic portion, and has a liner thermal conductivity greater than the pole thermal conductivity. The coil(s) are for energizing the write pole.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       FIG. 1  depicts top and side views of a portion of a conventional energy assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) transducer  10 . For clarity,  FIG. 1  is not to scale. The conventional EAMR transducer  10  is used in writing a recording media (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) and receives light, or energy, from a conventional laser (not shown in  FIG. 1 ). The conventional EAMR transducer  10  includes a conventional waveguide  12  having cladding  14  and  16  and core  18 , a conventional grating  20 , a conventional near-field transducer (NFT)  22 , and a conventional pole  30 . Light from a laser (not shown) is incident on the grating  20 , which coupled light to the waveguide  12 . Light is guided by the conventional waveguide  12  to the NFT  22  near the air-bearing surface (ABS). The NFT  22  focuses the light to magnetic recording media (not shown), such as a disk. 
     In operation, light from the laser is coupled to the conventional EAMR transducer  10  using the grating  20 . The waveguide  12  directs light from the grating  12  to the NFT  22 . The NFT  22  focuses the light from the waveguide  12  and heats a small region of the conventional media (not shown). The conventional EAMR transducer  10  magnetically writes data to the heated region of the recording media by energizing the conventional pole  30 . 
     Although the conventional EAMR transducer  10  may function, there are drawbacks. The trend in magnetic recording continues to higher recording densities. For example, currently, magnetic recording densities reaching 500-600 Gb/in 2  are desired. At such high densities, performance of the conventional NFT  22  may degrade. In some instances, the conventional NFT  22  may be destroyed during use. 
     Accordingly, what is needed is a system and method for improving performance and reliability of an EAMR transducer. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An energy assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) transducer coupled with a laser is described. The EAMR transducer has an air-bearing surface (ABS) residing near a media during use. The laser provides energy. The transducer includes a waveguide, a near field transducer (NFT) proximate to the ABS, a write pole and at least one coil. The waveguide is configured to direct the energy from the laser toward the ABS. The NFT is optically coupled with the waveguide and focuses the energy onto a region of the media. The write pole writes to the region of the media. The write pole has a magnetic portion and a nonmagnetic liner. The magnetic portion has a plurality of sides and a pole thermal conductivity. The nonmagnetic liner is adjacent to at least the sides of the magnetic portion and has a liner thermal conductivity greater than the pole thermal conductivity. The coil(s) are for energizing the write pole. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  depicts a side view of a conventional EAMR transducer. 
         FIG. 2  depicts an exemplary embodiment of a portion of an EAMR disk drive. 
         FIG. 3  depicts ABS and side views of an exemplary embodiment of a portion of an EAMR head. 
         FIG. 4  depicts ABS and side views of an exemplary embodiment of a portion of an EAMR transducer. 
         FIG. 5  depicts ABS and side views of another exemplary embodiment of a portion of an EAMR transducer. 
         FIG. 6  depicts ABS and side views of another exemplary embodiment of a portion of an EAMR transducer. 
         FIG. 7  depicts ABS and side views of another exemplary embodiment of a portion of an EAMR transducer. 
         FIG. 8  depicts ABS and side views of another exemplary embodiment of a portion of an EAMR transducer. 
         FIG. 9  depicts an exemplary embodiment of a method of forming a portion of an EAMR transducer. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram depicting a portion of an EAMR disk drive  100 . For clarity,  FIG. 2  is not to scale. For simplicity not all portions of the EAMR disk drive  100  are shown. In addition, although the disk drive  100  is depicted in the context of particular components other and/or different components may be used. Further, the arrangement of components may vary in different embodiments. The EAMR disk drive  100  includes a slider  102 , a laser/light source  104 , a mirror or other optics  106  for redirecting light from the laser  104 , media  108 , and an EAMR head  110 . In some embodiments, the laser  104  is a laser diode. Although shown as mounted on the slider  102 , the laser  104  may be coupled with the slider  102  in another fashion. For example, the laser  104  might be mounted on a suspension (not shown in  FIG. 2 ) to which the slider  102  is also attached. The media  108  may include multiple layers, which are not shown in  FIG. 2  for simplicity. 
     The EAMR head  110  includes an EAMR transducer  120 . The EAMR head  110  may also include a read transducer (not shown in  FIG. 2 ). The read transducer may be included if the EAMR head  110  is a merged head. The EAMR transducer  120  includes optical components (not shown in  FIG. 2 ) as well as magnetic components (not shown in  FIG. 2 ). 
       FIG. 3  depicts a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a portion of the EAMR head  110 . For clarity,  FIG. 3  is not to scale. Referring to  FIGS. 2-3 , for simplicity not all portions of the EAMR head  110  are shown. In addition, although the EAMR head  110  is depicted in the context of particular components other and/or different components may be used. Further, the arrangement of components may vary in different embodiments. The EAMR head  110  may be used in the EAMR disk drive  100 . Consequently, similar components have analogous labels. The EAMR head  110  includes a reader transducer  112  and an EAMR transducer  120 . 
     The read transducer  112  includes shields  114  and  118  and reader sensor  116 . In some embodiment, the read sensor  116  may be a giant magnetoresistance sensor, such as a spin tunneling junction. However, in other embodiments, another sensor may be used. 
     The EAMR transducer  120  includes waveguide  130 , NFT  138 , write pole  140 , back pedestal  148 , return pole  150 , optional stitch  152  and shield  154 . The EAMR transducer  120  may also include a grating (not shown) that is used to couple light from the laser  104  to the waveguide  130 . The coil(s)  146  may be pancake or, as is shown in  FIG. 3 , solenoidal. The coil(s)  146  may be used to energize the write pole  140  during writing. 
     The waveguide  130  directs energy from the laser  104  to the ABS. The waveguide  130  includes cladding  132  and  136  as well as core  134 . The NFT  138  is optically coupled with the waveguide  130 , receiving energy from the core  134 . The NFT  138  is proximate to the ABS. For example, the NFT  138  is shown as having a surface occupying a portion of the ABS. The NFT  138  is optically coupled with the waveguide  130  and focuses energy from the waveguide onto a region of the media  108 . In some embodiments, the NFT  138  includes a disk  138 A and a pin  138 B. The pin  138 B is between the disk  138 A and the ABS. Thus, the disk  138 A is recessed from the ABS and thus is shown by a dashed line in the ABS view of  FIG. 3 . The disk  138 A extends further in the track width direction (perpendicular to the plane of the page in  FIG. 3 ) than the pin  138 B. Although termed a disk, the disk  138 A of the NFT  138  need not be disk-shaped. For example, instead of having a circular footprint, the disk  138 A may be square, rectangular, or have another shape. 
     The write pole  140  is configured to write to the region of the media heated by the NFT  138 . In some embodiments, the write pole  140  does not extend more than across the disk  138 A of the NFT in the track width direction. Thus, for example, the width of the write pole  140  in the track width direction may be less than two hundred nanometers. The main pole  140  includes a magnetic portion  144  and a nonmagnetic liner  142 . The magnetic portion  144  includes NFT-facing surface  145  and bottom surface  147 . The NFT-facing surface faces NFT  138  and may be substantially parallel to the top surface of the NFT  138 . The bottom surface  147  slopes away from the NFT. Although shown as extending past the NFT  138 , the NFT-facing surface  145  may not extend as far from the ABS as the NFT  138 . In some embodiments, the NFT-facing surface  147  may be omitted or extend a negligible distance from the ABS. A pole that omits the NFT-facing surface may be termed a zero throat height pole as the back surface  147  extends substantially to the ABS. In such an embodiment, the pole  140  may extend further than the NFT  138  in the track width direction. In other embodiments, the back surface  147  might not be sloped or be sloped in another manner. The magnetic portion  144  has a pole thermal conductivity. For example, the pole thermal conductivity may be on the order of 35 W/mK. The magnetic portion  144  may also include high saturation magnetization material(s). 
     The nonmagnetic liner  142  is nonmagnetic and is adjacent to at least the sides of the magnetic portion  144 . In some embodiments, the nonmagnetic liner  142  adjoins the sides of the magnetic portion  144 . In the embodiment shown, the nonmagnetic liner  142  also covers the bottom and back of the magnetic portion  144 . However, in other embodiments, some or all of the bottom and/or back of the magnetic portion  144  may not be covered by the nonmagnetic liner. For example, in some embodiments, the nonmagnetic liner  142  may not extend all the way to the ABS. In some embodiments, the nonmagnetic liner  142  may not extend further from the ABS than the NFT  138 . Thus, the nonmagnetic liner  142  might extend a smaller or equivalent distance from the ABS as the NFT  138 . Further, the nonmagnetic liner  142  is shown as having substantially the same thicknesses under the magnetic portion  144  as on the back of the magnetic portion  144 . However, in other embodiments, the nonmagnetic liner  142  may have different thicknesses on the back as on under the magnetic portion  144 . A space is shown between the NFT  138  and the write pole  140 . However, in other embodiments, the nonmagnetic liner  142  may also directly contact the NFT  138 . 
     The nonmagnetic liner  142  also has a liner thermal conductivity. In some embodiments, the liner thermal conductivity is greater than the pole thermal conductivity of the magnetic portion  144 . For example, the nonmagnetic liner  142  might include materials such as gold, copper, silver, their alloys and/or high thermal conductivity materials. As used herein, a high thermal conductivity material has a thermal conductivity greater than the pole thermal conductivity of the magnetic portion  144 . For example some high thermal conductivity materials may have a thermal conductivity on the order of 80-100 W/mK or more. Some such materials may have a thermal conductivity of 150 W/mK or more. Other materials may have a thermal conductivity of 200 W/mK or more. Thus, the nonmagnetic liner  142  might be electrically conductive or electrically insulating. However, in either case, the nonmagnetic liner  142  has a higher thermal conductivity than the magnetic portion  144 . For example, a high thermal conductivity composite including both insulating and conducting materials may also be used for the nonmagnetic liner  142 . 
     The nonmagnetic liner  142  has a liner optical absorption of the energy from the laser  104 . In such embodiments, the magnetic portion  144  of the write pole  140  has a magnetic portion optical absorption of the energy from the laser  104 . In some embodiments, the liner optical absorption is less than the magnetic portion optical absorption. In some such embodiments the liner thermal conductivity is also greater than the pole thermal conductivity of the magnetic portion  144 . However, in other embodiments, the liner thermal conductivity may not be greater than the pole thermal conductivity. 
     The thickness of the nonmagnetic liner  142  may also be configured. For example, in some embodiments, nonmagnetic liner  142  has a thickness not less than a skin depth corresponding to the energy. In some embodiments, the nonmagnetic liner  142  is at least five nanometers thick. In such embodiments, the magnetic portion  144  may absorb significantly less energy from the laser. In other embodiments, the thickness of the nonmagnetic liner  142  may vary. For example, the portion of the nonmagnetic liner  142  between the magnetic portion  144  and the NFT  138  is at least five nanometers thick, while another portion of the nonmagnetic liner  142  adjacent to the sides of the magnetic portion  144  is at least twenty-five nanometers and not more than fifty nanometers thick. In some embodiments, the total distance between the core  134  and the bottom of the magnetic portion  144  is desired to be kept constant. Consequently, the portion of the nonmagnetic liner  142  directly above the NFT  138  may have a constant thickness. However, away from the NFT  138 , the portion of the nonmagnetic liner  142  along the bottom surface  147  of the magnetic portion  144  may be thicker. In addition, the write pole  140  may have a total width in the track width direction of not more than two hundred nanometers. In some embodiments, the width of the write pole  140  may be not more than one hundred fifty nanometers in the track width direction. In some embodiments, the write pole  140  may have a total width in the track width direction of not more the width of the NFT  138  in the track width direction. 
     The EAMR head  110  has improved thermal management. In some embodiments, the nonmagnetic liner  142  improves the thermal conductivity of the region of the NFT  138  and the write pole  140 . Thus, heat may be channeled from the NFT  138  to the nonmagnetic liner  142  and be dissipated. Consequently, heat damage to the NFT  138  may be mitigated or prevented. In addition, heat from the write pole  140  may also be dissipated. In some embodiments, the optical absorption of the nonmagnetic liner  142  is less than that of the magnetic portion  144 . The liner  142  may also have a thickness that is greater than the skin depth of the energy, or light, used. In such embodiments, the write pole  140  may have reduced absorption of the energy used in the EAMR head  110 . Consequently, the write pole  140  may undergo less heating. As a result, there may be less thermal protrusion of the write pole  140 . Consequently, the fly height of the EAMR head  110  may be made more stable. In some embodiments, the width of the write pole  140  is not more than the width of the disk  138 A of the NFT  138 . A narrow write pole  140  may also be desirable for improving the efficiency of the EAMR head  110 . Thus, the EAMR head  110  may have improved efficiency. Because it is nonmagnetic, the nonmagnetic liner  142  may provide such benefits substantially without affecting the magnetic characteristics of the magnetic portion  144 . Thus, performance and reliability of the EAMR head  110  may be improved. 
       FIGS. 4-8  depict ABS and side views of exemplary embodiments of a portion of an EAMR transducer. Note that one or more of the features depicted in  FIGS. 4-8  may be combined in the EAMR head  110 .  FIG. 4  depicts an exemplary embodiment of an EAMR head  110 ′. For simplicity, only the write pole  140 ′ and NFT  138 ′ are shown. For clarity,  FIG. 4  is not to scale. In addition, although the EAMR head  110 ′ is depicted in the context of particular components other and/or different components may be used. Further, the arrangement of components may vary in different embodiments. The EAMR head  110 ′ may be used in the EAMR disk drive  100 . Consequently, similar components have analogous labels. 
     The write pole  140 ′ includes nonmagnetic liner  142 ′ and magnetic portion  144 ′. The NFT  138 ′ includes a disk  138 A′ and a pin  138 B′. The NFT  138 ′ is shown as separated from the write pole  140 ′ by a small space. However, in other embodiments, NFT  138 ′ adjoins the write pole  140 ′. The width of the magnetic pole  140 ′ in the track width direction does not exceed the width of the disk  138 A′ of the NFT  138 ′. In the embodiment shown, the thickness of the nonmagnetic liner  142 ′ is larger along the sides of the magnetic portion  144 ′ than between the magnetic portion  144 ′ and the NFT  138 ′. However, in other embodiments, the thickness may vary in another manner. In addition, the nonmagnetic liner  142 ′ is also thicker at the back of the main pole  140 ′. In another embodiment, the nonmagnetic liner  142 ′ may be thinner or nonexistent distal from the ABS. 
       FIG. 5  depicts ABS and side views of another exemplary embodiment of a portion of an EAMR transducer  110 ″. For simplicity, only the write pole  140 ″ and NFT  138 ″ are shown. For clarity,  FIG. 5  is not to scale. In addition, although the EAMR head  110 ″ is depicted in the context of particular components other and/or different components may be used. Further, the arrangement of components may vary in different embodiments. The EAMR head  110 ″ may be used in the EAMR disk drive  100 . Consequently, similar components have analogous labels. 
     The write pole  140 ″ includes nonmagnetic liner  142 ″ and magnetic portion  144 ″. The NFT  138 ″ includes a disk  138 A″ and a pin  138 B″. The NFT  138 ″ is shown as separated from the write pole  140 ″ by a small space. However, in other embodiments, NFT  138 ″ adjoins the write pole  140 ″. The width of the magnetic pole  140 ″ in the track width direction does not exceed the width of the disk  138 A″ of the NFT  138 ″. In the embodiment shown, the nonmagnetic liner  142 ″ resides only along the sides of the magnetic portion  144 ″. In addition, the nonmagnetic liner  142 ″ also resides at the back of the main pole  140 ″. In another embodiment, the nonmagnetic liner  142 ″ may be thinner or nonexistent distal from the ABS. 
       FIG. 6  depicts ABS and side views of another exemplary embodiment of a portion of an EAMR transducer  110 ′″. For simplicity, only the write pole  140 ′″ and NFT  138 ′″ are shown. For clarity,  FIG. 6  is not to scale. In addition, although the EAMR head  110 ′″ is depicted in the context of particular components other and/or different components may be used. Further, the arrangement of components may vary in different embodiments. The EAMR head  110 ′″ may be used in the EAMR disk drive  100 . Consequently, similar components have analogous labels. 
     The write pole  140 ′″ includes nonmagnetic liner  142 ′″ and magnetic portion  144 ′″. The NFT  138 ′″ includes a disk  138 A′″ and a pin  138 B′″. The NFT  138 ′″ is shown as separated from the write pole  140 ′″ by a small space. However, in other embodiments, NFT  138 ′″ adjoins the write pole  140 ′″. The width of the magnetic pole  140 ′″ in the track width direction does not exceed the width of the disk  138 A′″ of the NFT  138 ′″. In the embodiment shown, the nonmagnetic liner  142 ′″ does not extend completely along the sides of the magnetic portion  144 ′″. In particular, the nonmagnetic liner  144 ′″ does not extend to the top of the magnetic portion  144 ′″. In addition, the nonmagnetic liner  142 ′″ is shown as extending from the ABS along the NFT-facing surface  145 ′″, but not beyond. Although the nonmagnetic liner  142 ′″ extends farther from the ABS than the NFT  138 ′″, in another embodiment, the nonmagnetic liner  142 ′″ may not extend farther back from the ABS than the NFT  138 ′″. 
       FIG. 7  depicts ABS and side views of another exemplary embodiment of a portion of an EAMR transducer  110 ″″. For simplicity, only the write pole  140 ″″ and NFT  138 ″″ are shown. For clarity,  FIG. 7  is not to scale. In addition, although the EAMR head  110 ″″ is depicted in the context of particular components other and/or different components may be used. Further, the arrangement of components may vary in different embodiments. The EAMR head  110 ″″ may be used in the EAMR disk drive  100 . Consequently, similar components have analogous labels. 
     The write pole  140 ″″ includes nonmagnetic liner  142 ″″ and magnetic portion  144 ″″. The NFT  138 ″″ includes a disk  138 A″″ and a pin  138 B″″. The NFT  138 ″″ is shown as separated from the write pole  140 ″″ by a small space. However, in other embodiments, NFT  138 ″″ adjoins the write pole  140 ″″. The width of the magnetic pole  140 ″″ in the track width direction does not exceed the width of the disk  138 A″″ of the NFT  138 ″″. In the embodiment shown, the nonmagnetic liner  142 ″″ does not extend completely along the sides of the magnetic portion  144 ″″. In particular, the nonmagnetic liner  144 ″″ does not extend to the ABS. The nonmagnetic liner  144 ″″ may be of particular utility if material(s) more likely to corrode, such as Cu, are used for the liner  142 ″″. 
       FIG. 8  depicts ABS and side views of another exemplary embodiment of a portion of an EAMR head  110 ′″″. For simplicity, only the write pole  140 ′″″ and NFT  138 ′″″ are shown. For clarity,  FIG. 8  is not to scale. In addition, although the EAMR head  110 ′″″ is depicted in the context of particular components other and/or different components may be used. Further, the arrangement of components may vary in different embodiments. The EAMR head  110 ′″″ may be used in the EAMR disk drive  100 . Consequently, similar components have analogous labels. 
     The write pole  140 ′″″ includes nonmagnetic liner  142 ′″″ and magnetic portion  144 ′″″. The NFT  138 ′″″ includes a disk  138 A′″″ and a pin  138 B′″″. The NFT  138 ′″″ is shown as adjoining the write pole  140 ′″″. However, in other embodiments, NFT  138 ′″″ may be separated from the write pole  140 ′″″ by a small space. The width of the magnetic pole  140 ′″″, including the nonmagnetic liner  142 ′″″, in the track width direction does not exceed the width of the disk  138 A′″″ of the NFT  138 ′″″. In the embodiment shown, the nonmagnetic liner  142 ″″ adjacent to the NFT-facing surface  145 ″″ extends farther in the track width direction than the portion of the nonmagnetic liner  142 ′″ adjacent to the sides of the magnetic portion  144 ′″″. 
     The EAMR heads  110 ′,  110 ″,  110 ′″,  110 ″″, and  110 ′″″ use various configurations of the nonmagnetic liner  142 ′,  142 ″,  142 ′″,  142 ″″, and  142 ′″″. Thus, the EAMR heads  110 ′,  110 ″,  110 ′″,  110 ″″, and  110 ′″″ share the benefits of the EAMR head  110 . In particular, the EAMR heads  110 ′,  110 ″,  110 ′″,  110 ″″, and  110 ′″″ have improved thermal management. More specifically, in at least some embodiments, the nonmagnetic liner  142 ′,  142 ″,  142 ′″,  142 ″″, and  142 ′″″ improves the thermal conductivity of the region of the NFT  138 ′,  138 ″,  138 ′″,  138 ″″, and  138 ′″″ and the write pole  140 ′,  140 ″,  140 ′″,  140 ″″, and  140 ′″″. Thus, heat may be channeled from the NFT  138 ′,  138 ″,  138 ′″,  138 ″″, and  138 ′″″ to the nonmagnetic liner  142 ′,  142 ″,  142 ′″,  142 ″″, and  142 ′″″ and be dissipated, for example in the slider  102 . Consequently, heat damage to the NFT  138 ′,  138 ″,  138 ′″,  138 ″″, and  138 ′″″ may be mitigated or prevented. In addition, heat from the write pole  140  may also be dissipated. In some embodiments, the optical absorption of the nonmagnetic liner  142 ′,  142 ″,  142 ′″,  142 ″″,  142 ′″″ is less than that of the magnetic portion  144 ′,  144 ″,  144 ′″,  144 ″″,  144 ′″″. Further, the liner  142 ′,  142 ″,  142 ′″,  142 ″″,  142 ′″″ may have a thickness that is greater than the skin depth of the energy, or light, used. In such embodiments, the write pole  140 ′,  140 ″,  140 ′″,  140 ″″,  140 ′″″ may have reduced absorption of the energy used in the EAMR head  110 ′,  110 ″,  110 ′″,  110 ″″,  110 ′″″. In still other embodiments, the nonmagnetic liner  142 ′,  142 ″,  142 ′″,  142 ″″,  142 ′″″ may have both a higher thermal conductivity and a lower optical absorption of energy used in the EAMR head. Thus, the benefits of the liner may be even greater. There may be less thermal protrusion of the write pole  140 ′,  140 ″,  140 ′″,  140 ″″, and  140 ′″″. Consequently, the fly height of the EAMR head  110 ′,  110 ″,  110 ′″,  110 ″″,  110 ′″″ may be made more stable. In some embodiments, the width of the write pole  140 ′,  140 ″,  140 ′″,  140 ″″,  140 ′″″ are not more than the width of the disk  138 A′,  138 A″,  138 A′″,  138 A″″, and  138 A′″″ of the NFT  138 ′,  138 ″,  138 ′″,  138 ″″, and  138 ′″″. A narrow write pole  140 ′,  140 ″,  140 ′″,  140 ″″,  140 ′″″ may also be desirable for improving the efficiency of the EAMR head  110 ′,  110 ″,  110 ′″,  110 ″″,  110 ′″″. Thus, the EAMR head  110 ′,  110 ″,  110 ′″,  110 ″″,  110 ′″″ may have improved efficiency. Because it is nonmagnetic, the nonmagnetic liner  142 ′,  142 ″,  142 ′″,  142 ″″,  142 ′″″ may provide such benefits substantially without affecting the magnetic characteristics of the magnetic portion  144 ′,  144 ″,  144 ′″,  144 ″″,  144 ′″″. Thus, performance and reliability of the EAMR head  110 ′,  110 ″,  110 ′″,  110 ″″,  110 ′″″ may be improved. 
       FIG. 9  depicts an exemplary embodiment of a method  200  of forming a portion of an EAMR head. For simplicity, some steps may be omitted, combined, and/or performed in another sequence. The method  200  is described in the context of the EAMR disk drive  100  and EAMR head  110 . However, the method  200  may be used to fabricate other EAMR heads, including but not limited to EAMR heads  110 ′,  110 ″,  110 ′″,  110 ″″,  110 ′″″. In addition, the method  200  is described in the context of fabricating a single disk drive  100 . However, multiple transducers may be fabricated substantially in parallel. Further, although described as separate steps, portions of the method  200  may be interleaved. 
     The waveguide  130  is provided, via step  202 . Step  202  includes fabricating the components  132 ,  134 , and  136 . In addition, the grating(s) (not shown) and other optical components may be fabricated. The NFT  138  may be provided, via step  204 . Step  204  includes fabricating the disk  138 A and pin  138 B of the NFT  138 . 
     The write pole  140  is provided, via step  206 . Step  206  includes fabricating the nonmagnetic liner  142  and the magnetic portion  144 . Thus, the desired materials may be deposited for the nonmagnetic liner  142  and magnetic portion  144 . In addition, the nonmagnetic liner  142  and magnetic portion  144  may also be configured as desired. For example, the nonmagnetic liner  142 ′,  142 ″,  142 ′″,  142 ″″,  142 ″″,  142 ′″″ may be configured as shown in one or more of  FIGS. 2-8 . The coil(s)  146  may then be provided, via step  250 . 
     Thus, using the method  200 , the benefits of the EAMR disk drive  100 ,  100 ′,  100 ″,  100 ′″,  100 ″″, and/or  100 ′″″ may be achieved.