Patent ID: 8446690

Claim:
A perpendicular magnetic recording write head for magnetizing regions in a perpendicular magnetic recording layer, the write head being formed on a slider having an air-bearing surface (ABS) facing the recording layer, the write head comprising: a main pole having a primary axis oriented generally orthogonal to the ABS; a main electrically conductive coil coupled to the main pole for generating magnetic flux along the primary axis of the main pole in the presence of electrical write current; and a spin torque oscillator (STO) having first and second electrodes and a free ferromagnetic layer between the electrodes and having an output edge oriented substantially parallel to the primary axis of the main pole, the free layer having a magnetization free to rotate in the presence of an electrical current between the electrodes, the rotation of the free layer magnetization generating an auxiliary magnetic flux directed from said free layer output edge to the main pole at an angle to the primary axis of the main pole greater than or equal to 70 degrees and less than or equal to 90 degrees to facilitate magnetization reversal in the main pole.