Patent ID: 7561379

Claim:
A perpendicular writer comprising: a surface; a main pole proximate the surface; a return pole proximate the surface and spaced away from the main pole at the surface, wherein the return pole includes a laminated portion adjacent the surface comprising n magnetic layers and (n−1) nonmagnetic layers interspersed between the magnetic layers, wherein each of the magnetic and nonmagnetic layers extends from the surface toward a back yoke, and wherein the back yoke connects the main pole and the return pole distal the surface, the return pole being configured such that a magnetization of a portion adjacent the surface is held substantially parallel to the surface during a write operation; and a first layer positioned on a first outermost magnetic layer of the laminated portion of the return pole; and a second layer positioned on a second outermost magnetic layer of the laminated portion of the return pole, wherein the first layer and second layer comprise a low moment magnetic material, an antiferromagnetic material, or a bilayer comprising a hard ferromagnetic material and a nonmagnetic material.