Patent ID: 8351308

Claim:
A thermally assisted magnetic head, comprising: a magnetic pole that generates a writing magnetic field from an end surface, which forms a part of a medium opposing surface that opposes a magnetic recording medium; a waveguide through which light for exciting surface plasmon propagates; and a plasmon generator that is provided between the magnetic pole and the waveguide and that generates near-field light from a near-field light generating end surface that forms a part of the medium opposing surface by coupling the light thereto in a surface plasmon mode, wherein the magnetic pole includes a convex part that protrudes in a substantially V-shape along a light propagation direction of the waveguide on a waveguide opposing surface that opposes the waveguide, the plasmon generator includes a substantially V-shaped part that contacts the convex part, as seen from a side of the medium opposing surface, a thickness of the plasmon generator in a direction perpendicular to convex part contacting sides gradually increases from an end positioned closest to the waveguide on the convex part contacting sides in a direction away from the waveguide, the convex part contacting sides being linear sides that form the substantially V-shaped part of the plasmon generator and contacting the convex part, and a thickness of the plasmon generator in a direction from a second point toward a side of the waveguide is greater than a thickness of the plasmon generator in a direction from a first point toward the side of the waveguide, the first point being defined as a position, on the near-field light generating end surface, that is closest to the waveguide and that contacts the convex part, the second point being defined as a position away from the first point in a direction opposite from the light propagation direction.