Patent ID: 8054578

Claim:
A perpendicular magnetic recording head comprising a main magnetic pole layer and a return yoke layer, the main magnetic pole layer and return yoke layer being laminated with a predetermined distance therebetween on a surface opposing a recording medium and magnetically coupled to each other on a deeper side opposite the medium-opposing surface in a height direction, a magnetic gap layer interposed between the main magnetic pole layer and the return yoke layer on the medium-opposing surface side, and a pair of side shield layers positioned on both sides in a track width direction of the main magnetic pole layer while interposing a nonmagnetic material layer therebetween; wherein the magnetic gap layer includes a first gap layer formed in a partial area in the track width direction bridging the main magnetic pole layer and the pair of side shield layers, and a second gap layer thinner than the first gap layer, the second gap layer being interposed between the return yoke layer and the pair of side shield layers in a remaining area where the first gap layer is absent and being wider than the first gap layer in the track width direction.