Patent ID: 8284636

Claim:
A near-field light assisted magnetic recording head comprising: a conical tip having an opening for generating near-field light and a side surface forming at least a part of an edge portion of the conical tip surrounding the opening, the opening being disposed at a distal end of the conical tip configured to oppose a surface of a medium; and a magnetic recording element for generating magnetization inversion in a minute area on the surface of the medium which is heated by application of the near-field light, the magnetic recording element having a main magnetic pole comprised of a thin film arranged on side surface of the conical tip for providing a magnetic field to the surface of the medium in a substantially vertical direction, a secondary magnetic pole arranged on a surface of the conical tip opposite to the side surface thereof for absorbing a part of the magnetic field provided from the main magnetic pole, and a dielectric film arranged between the thin film and the secondary magnetic pole.