Patent ID: 8320079

Claim:
A magnetic head assembly comprising: a spin torque oscillator comprising a stacked structure stacking a first magnetic layer, an intermediate layer, and a second magnetic layer, in this order, the spin torque oscillator generating a high-frequency magnetic field by applying a current between the first and second magnetic layers; a recording magnetic pole having a first face facing to one end face of the spin torque oscillator in a stacking direction of the spin torque oscillator and a second face facing to a magnetic recording medium, the recording magnetic pole generating a write magnetic field; and a magnetic shield comprising first and second portions, the first portion having a third face facing to the other end face of the spin torque oscillator in the stacking direction of the spin torque oscillator, a fourth face facing to the magnetic recording medium, and a fifth face different from the third and fourth faces and associated with the second portion of the magnetic shield, the second portion extending to at least the second magnetic layer along the stacking direction of the spin torque oscillator, a distance between the second portion of the magnetic shield and the second magnetic layer being shorter than a distance between the recording magnetic pole and the second portion of the magnetic shield.