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, a heat spreader, and at least one coil. The waveguide directs the energy from the laser toward the ABS. The NFT is optically coupled with the waveguide, focuses the energy onto the media, and includes a disk having an NFT width. The write pole writes to the media. The heat spreader is thermally coupled with the NFT. A first portion of the heat spreader is between the NFT and the pole, is between the ABS and a second portion of the heat spreader, and has a first width. The second portion has a second width greater than the first width.

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, a heat spreader, and at least one coil. The waveguide directs the energy from the laser toward the ABS. The NFT is optically coupled with the waveguide, focuses the energy onto a region of the media, and includes a disk having an NFT width in a track width direction. The write pole writes to the region of the media. The heat spreader is thermally coupled with the NFT. A first portion of the heat spreader is between the NFT and the pole and has a first width in the track direction. A second portion of the heat spreader has a second width in the track width direction. The first portion is between the ABS and the second portion. The second width is greater than the first width. 
    
    
     
       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. 
         FIGS. 3 ,  4 , and  5  depict side, ABS, and plan views of an exemplary embodiment of a portion of an EAMR head. 
         FIGS. 6-7  depict plan and side views of an exemplary embodiment of a portion of an EAMR transducer. 
         FIGS. 8-9  depict plan and side views of another exemplary embodiment of a portion of an EAMR transducer. 
         FIGS. 10-11  depict plan and side views of another exemplary embodiment of a portion of an EAMR transducer. 
         FIG. 12  depicts an exemplary embodiment of a method of forming a portion of an EAMR transducer. 
         FIG. 13  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 ). 
       FIGS. 3-5  depict side view, ABS, and plan views, respectively, of an exemplary embodiment of a portion of the EAMR head  110 . For clarity,  FIGS. 3-5  are not to scale. Referring to  FIGS. 2-5 , 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 tunneling 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 , optional heat sink  140 , heat spreader  142 , write pole  144 , back pedestal  148 , return pole/shield  150 . 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 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, such as that shown in  FIGS. 3-5 , the NFT  138  includes a pin  138 A and a disk  138 B. The pin  138 A is between the disk  138 B and the ABS. Thus, the disk  138 B is recessed from the ABS and thus is shown by a dashed line in  FIG. 4 . The disk  138 B extends further in the track width direction than the pin  138 A, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . Although termed a disk, the disk  138 B of the NFT  138  need not be disk-shaped. For example, instead of having a circular footprint, the disk  138 B may be square, rectangular, or have another shape. 
     The write pole  144  is configured to write to the region of the media heated by the NFT  138 . In some embodiments, the pole tip of the write pole  140  does not extend more than across the disk  138 A of the NFT in the track width direction, as is shown in  FIG. 4 . Thus, for example, the width of the write pole  144  in the track width direction may be less than two hundred nanometers. However, in other embodiments, the width of the pole tip of the write pole  144  may differ. The write pole  144  includes NFT-facing surface  145  and bottom surface  147 . The NFT-facing surface  145  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  145  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 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. The write pole  144  may also include one or more high saturation magnetization material(s). 
     A heat sink  140  is also shown. In some embodiments, the heat sink  140  resides on the disk  138 B of the NFT  138 . The heat sink  140  may include Au, Cu and/or other thermally conductive material(s). In some embodiments, the footprint of the heat sink  140  is substantially the same as that of the disk  138 B. For example, the heat sink  140  may have a circular footprint. In other embodiments, the heat sink  140  may have a different footprint than the disk  138 B of the heat sink  138 . In some embodiments, the heat sink  140  may not occupy all of the disk  138 B of the heat sink  138 . For example, the heat sink  140  may have a smaller diameter than the disk  138 B of the heat sink  138 . Such an embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 3-5 . In other embodiments, the heat sink  140  may extend to the edges of the disk  138 B of the NFT  138 , or beyond. The heat sink  140  thermally couples the NFT  138  with the heat spreader  142 . However, in other embodiments, the head spreader  142  may be thermally coupled with the NFT  138  in another manner. For example, the heat spreader  142  may be in direct, physical contact with or very closely spaced away from the NFT  138 . 
     The heat spreader  142  is nonmagnetic has a high thermal conductivity. In some embodiments, the thermal conductivity of the heat spreader  142  is substantially the same as that of the heat sink  140  and/or greater than the thermal conductivity of the pole  144 . For example, the heat spreader  142  might include materials such as gold, copper, silver, aluminum, their alloys, aluminum nitride, beryllium oxide and/or other high thermal conductivity materials. As used herein, a high thermal conductivity material has a thermal conductivity greater than the thermal conductivity of the pole  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 heat spreader  142  might be electrically conductive or electrically insulating. Further, the head spreader  142  may include a single material, an alloy, multiple materials or alloys, a multilayer and/or another structure. For example, a high thermal conductivity composite including both insulating and conducting materials may also be used for the heat spreader  142 . 
     In addition to a high thermal conductivity, the heat spreader  142  is also thermally coupled with at least the NFT  138 . In some embodiments, the heat spreader  142  is also thermally coupled with the pole  144 . The heat spreader  142  has a width in the track width direction that is larger distal from the ABS. This can be seen in  FIGS. 4-5 . Thus, the heat spreader  142  may be viewed as having a first width closer to the ABS and a second width greater than the first width a distance from the ABS. In some embodiments, the heat spreader  142  is wider than the pole  144  distal from the ABS. In other embodiments, the heat spreader  142  may have a width that is the same as or smaller than the pole  144 . In some embodiments, the heat spreader  142  extends to the ABS. In other embodiments, the heat spreader  142  might be recessed from the ABS. In some embodiments, the heat spreader  142  has the same width as the pole  144  at the ABS. However, in other embodiments, the width of the heat spreader  142  may differ at the ABS. In addition to being thermally conductive, the heat spreader  142  has a greater width further from the ABS. As a result, the heat spreader  142  is able to spread the heat from the NFT  138  over a larger area of the transducer  120 . Dissipation of the heat from the NFT  138  and, in some embodiments, the pole  144 , may be improved. 
     In addition to being wider further from the ABS, at least a portion of the heat spreader  142  also extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the ABS. In some embodiments, the wider portion of the heat spreader away from the ABS is substantially planar. In other embodiments, the entire heat spreader  142  may be substantially planar. This may be seen in  FIG. 3 . The heat spreader  142  extends in a stripe height direction (to the right in  FIG. 3 ) away from the ABS. Thus, the portion of the heat spreader  142  further from the ABS may not conformal with the pole  144 . The heat spreader  142  may also not be conformal with the heat sink  140 . 
     The heat spreader  142  has an optical absorption of the energy from the laser  104 . In such embodiments, the pole  144  has a pole optical absorption of the energy from the laser  104 . In some embodiments, the optical absorption of the heat spreader  142  is less than the pole optical absorption. In some such embodiments the heat spreader thermal conductivity is also greater than the pole thermal conductivity. 
     The thickness of the heat spreader  142  may also be configured. For example, in some embodiments, heat spreader  142  has a thickness not less than a skin depth corresponding to the energy from the laser  104 . In some such embodiments, the thickness of the heat spreader  142  is at least twice the skin depth at the working wavelength of the laser  104 . In some embodiments, the heat spreader  142  is at least fifty nanometers thick. In such embodiments, the pole  144  may absorb significantly less energy from the laser. In some embodiments, the thickness of the heat spreader  142  may be not more than three times the skin depth at the working wavelength of the laser  104 . Thus, materials for the heat spreader  142  may be relatively quickly deposited. In other embodiments, the thickness of the heat spreader  142  may vary. For example, the portion of the heat spreader  142  between the pole  144  and the NFT  138  may be at least fifty nanometers thick, while another portion of the heat spreader  142  might have a different thickness. In some embodiments, the total distance between the core  134  and the bottom of the pole  144  is desired to be kept constant. Consequently, the portion of the heat spreader  142  directly above the NFT  138  may have a constant thickness. However, away from the NFT  138 , the portion of the heat spreader  142  along the bottom surface  147  of the pole  144  may have a different and/or varying thickness. 
     The EAMR head  110  has improved thermal management. The heat spreader  142  may improve the thermal conductivity of the region of the NFT  138  and the write pole  144 . Thus, heat may be channeled from the NFT  138  to the heat spreader  142  and be dissipated over a wider area of the EAMR transducer  120 . Consequently, heat damage to the NFT  138  may be mitigated or prevented. In embodiments in which the heat spreader  142  is thermally coupled with the write pole  144 , heat from the write pole  144  may also be dissipated. In some embodiments, the optical absorption of the heat spreader  142  is less than that of the write pole  144 . The heat spreader  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  144  may have reduced absorption of the laser energy used in the EAMR head  110 . Consequently, the write pole  144  may undergo less heating. As a result, there may be less thermal protrusion of the write pole  144 . Consequently, the fly height of the EAMR head  110  may be made more stable. Because it may be nonmagnetic, the heat spreader  142  may provide such benefits substantially without affecting the magnetic characteristics of the write pole  144 . Further, the heat spreader  142  is not conformal with the write pole  144 . The heat spreader  142  may thus be simpler to fabricate. For example, in some embodiments, the heat spreader  142  may be deposited in a single layer. Thus, performance, reliability, and manufacturability of the EAMR head  110  may be improved. 
       FIGS. 6-7  depict plan and side views of an exemplary embodiment of a portion of an EAMR write head  110 ′. The EAMR head  110 ′ is analogous to the EAMR head  110 . Thus, analogous components have similar labels. For simplicity, only the heat sink  140 ′, heat spreader  142 ′, and NFT  138 ′ having portions  138 A′ and  138 B′ are shown. For clarity,  FIGS. 6-7  are 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. Note that one or more of the features depicted in  FIGS. 6-7  may be combined in the EAMR head  110  depicted in  FIGS. 3-5 . The EAMR head  110 ′ may be used in the EAMR disk drive  100 . 
     In the embodiment shown, the heat sink  140 ′ has a sloped front surface. Further, the heat spreader  142 ′ is recessed from the ABS. The heat spreader  142 ′ also only extends over a portion of the disk  138 B′ of the NFT  138 ′. In the embodiment shown, the heat spreader  142 ′ also contacts only the flat (perpendicular to the ABS) portion of the top of the heat sink  140 ′. The heat spreader  142 ′ may or may not be thermally coupled with the pole  144 ′. Further, the heat spreader is wider than the NFT  138 ′ at its front, closest to the ABS. In some embodiments, the heat spreader  142 ′ is also wider than the pole (not shown in  FIG. 6 ) at its front portion closer to the ABS and/or the back portion distal from the ABS. 
     The EAMR head  110 ′ may share the benefits of the EAMR head  110 . For example, the heat spreader  142 ′ may improve thermal management for the NFT  138 ′ and the pole  144 ′. The heat spreader  142 ′ may conduct heat away from the NFT  138 ′ and spread the heat over a wider area for dissipation. The heat spreader  142 ′ may also prevent absorption of the light from the laser  104  by the pole  144 ′. Thus, the pole  144 ′ may undergo less heating. Further, the heat spreader  142 ′ may be relatively simple to fabricate. Thus, performance, reliability, and fabrication may be improved. 
       FIGS. 8-9  depict plan and side views of an exemplary embodiment of a portion of an EAMR write head  110 ″. The EAMR head  110 ″ is analogous to the EAMR heads  110  and  110 ′. Thus, analogous components have similar labels. For simplicity, only the heat sink  140 ″, heat spreader  142 ″, and NFT  138 ″ having portions  138 A″ and  138 B″ are shown. For clarity,  FIGS. 8-9  are 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. Note that one or more of the features depicted in  FIGS. 8-9  may be combined in the EAMR head  110  depicted in  FIGS. 3-5 . The EAMR head  110 ″ may be used in the EAMR disk drive  100 . 
     In the embodiment shown, the heat sink  140 ″ has a sloped front surface. The heat spreader  142 ″ is recessed from the ABS. The heat spreader  142 ″ also only extends over a portion of the disk  138 B′ of the NFT  138 ″. In the embodiment shown, the heat spreader  142 ″ also contacts only the flat (perpendicular to the ABS) portion of the top of the heat sink  140 ″. The heat spreader  142 ″ is conformal with the pole  144 ″ near the sloped surface. However, the remainder of the head spreader  142 ″ extends substantially perpendicular to the ABS and may not be conformal with the pole  144 ″. Further, the heat spreader  142 ″ is wider than the NFT  138 ″ at its front, closest to the ABS. In some embodiments, the heat spreader  142 ″ is also wider than the pole (not shown in  FIG. 8 ) at its front portion closer to the ABS and/or the back portion distal from the ABS. 
     The EAMR head  110 ″ may share the benefits of the EAMR heads  110  and/or  110 ′. For example, the heat spreader  142 ″ may improve thermal management for the NFT  138 ″ and the pole  144 ″. The heat spreader  142 ″ may conduct heat away from the NFT  138 ″ and tip of the pole  144 ″. The heat spreader  142 ″ also spreads the heat over a wider area for dissipation. The heat spreader  142 ″ may also prevent absorption of the light from the laser  104  by the pole  144 ″. Thus, the pole  144 ″ may undergo less heating. Further, the heat spreader  142 ″ may be relatively simple to fabricate. Thus, performance, reliability, and fabrication may be improved. 
       FIGS. 10-11  depict plan and side views of an exemplary embodiment of a portion of an EAMR write head  110 ′″. The EAMR head  110 ′″ is analogous to the EAMR heads  110 ,  110 ′, and  110 ″. Thus, analogous components have similar labels. For simplicity, only the heat sink  140 ′″, heat spreader  142 ′″, and NFT  138 ′″ having portions  138 A′″ and  138 B′″ are shown. For clarity,  FIGS. 10-11  are 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. Note that one or more of the features depicted in  FIGS. 10-11  may be combined in the EAMR head  110  depicted in  FIGS. 3-5 . The EAMR head  110 ′″ may be used in the EAMR disk drive  100 . 
     In the embodiment shown, the heat sink  140 ′″ has a sloped front surface. The heat spreader  142 ′″ is recessed from the ABS. The heat spreader  142 ′″ also only extends over the heat sink  140 ′″. In the embodiment shown, the heat spreader  142 ′″ also contacts both the flat (perpendicular to the ABS) portion and the sloped portion of the top of the heat sink  140 ′″. The heat spreader  142 ″ is conformal with the pole  144 ′″ and the heat sink  140 ″ near the sloped surface. However, the remainder of the head spreader  142 ′″ extends substantially perpendicular to the ABS and is not conformal with the pole  144 ′″. Further, the heat spreader  142 ′″ is wider than the NFT  138 ′″ at its front, closest to the ABS. In some embodiments, the heat spreader  142 ′″ is also wider than the pole (not shown in  FIG. 10 ) at its front portion closer to the ABS and/or the back portion distal from the ABS. 
     The EAMR head  110 ′″ may share the benefits of the EAMR heads  110 ,  110 ′ and/or  110 ″. For example, the heat spreader  142 ′″ may improve thermal management for the NFT  138 ′″ and the pole  144 ′″. The heat spreader  142 ″ may conduct heat away from the NFT  138 ′″ and tip of the pole  144 ″′. The heat spreader  142 ′″ may spread the heat over a wider area for dissipation. The heat spreader  142 ′″ may also prevent absorption of the light from the laser  104  by the pole  144 ′″. Thus, the pole  144 ′″ may undergo less heating. Further, the heat spreader  142 ′″ may be relatively simple to fabricate. Thus, performance, reliability, and fabrication may be improved. 
       FIG. 12  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 ″, and  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 B and pin  138 A of the NFT  138 . 
     The heat sink  140  is optionally provided, via step  206 . In some embodiments, step  206  includes forming a heat sink post having a footprint similar to that of the disk  138 B. Step  206  may also include removing a portion of the heat sink post such that at least a portion of the top surface of the heat sink  140  is sloped. In some embodiments, the sloped portion of the heat sink  140  is conformal with the pole  144 . 
     The heat spreader  142  is provided via step  208 . The heat spreader  142  is thermally coupled with the NFT  138  and, in some embodiments, with the pole  144 . If the heat sink  140  is used, then the heat spreader  142  may be thermally coupled with the NFT  138  through the heat sink  140 . The heat spreader  142  is wider further from the ABS and may extend substantially perpendicular to the ABS. Thus, the heat spreader  142  may not be conformal with the pole  144 . Step  206  may include depositing a layer of thermally conductive material and patterning the layer to have the desired widths. 
     The write pole  144  is provided, via step  210 . Step  210  may include fabricating the NFT facing surface  145  and the sloped surface  147 . Step  210  may include depositing one or more high saturation magnetization material(s). The coil(s)  146  may then be provided, via step  212 . Thus, using the method  200 , the benefits of the EAMR head  110 ,  110 ′,  110 ″, and/or  110 ′″ may be achieved. 
       FIG. 13  depicts an exemplary embodiment of a method  220  of forming a portion of an EAMR head. For simplicity, some steps may be omitted, combined, and/or performed in another sequence. The method  220  is described in the context of the EAMR disk drive  100  and EAMR heads  110 ′ and  110 ″. However, the method  220  may be used to fabricate other EAMR heads, including but not limited to EAMR heads  110  and  110 ′″. In addition, the method  220  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  220  may be interleaved. 
     A heat sink post is provided, via step  222 . The heat sink post may be the heat sink  140 ′/ 140 ″ prior to formation of the sloped surface at the top. 
     One or more thermally conductive material(s) for the heat spreader  142 ′/ 142 ″ may be deposited, via step  224 . Step  224  may also include patterning the layer such than the portion of the heat spreader  142 ′/ 142 ″ closer to the ABS is less wide than the portion of the heat spreader  142 / 142 ″ further from the ABS. For example, the thermally conductive material(s) may be deposited, and then a portion of the material(s) removed. Alternatively, a mask having an aperture of the desired footprint or a trench having the desired footprint for the heat spreader  142 ′/ 142 ″ may be provided and the heat spreader  142 ′/ 142 ″ material deposited. 
     At least a portion of the heat sink post is removed, via step  226 . Thus, the heat sink  140 ′/ 140 ″ is formed. If the thermally conductive material(s) for the heat spreader  142 ′/ 142 ″ have already been deposited, then a portion of these materials are removed. Thus, the heat sink  140 ″ and heat spreader  142 ″ may be formed. In such an embodiment, step  224  occurs before step  226 . If the material(s) for the heat spreader  142 ′ have not been deposited, then step  226  occurs before step  224 . Thus, the heat spreader  142 ′ may be provided. Thus, using the method  220 , the heat spreader  142 ′/ 142 ″ and heat sink  140 ′/ 140 ″ may be formed. The benefits of the EAMR head  110 ′ and/or  110 ″ may be achieved.