Patent ID: 7859791

Claim:
A perpendicular magnetic recording head, comprising: a nonmagnetic insulating layer; a main magnetic pole layer disposed on the nonmagnetic insulating layer, the main magnetic pole layer including: a pole straight part exposed in an opposing surface opposite a recording medium, and a flared part that extends from the pole straight part in a height direction, the flared part broadening in a track width direction as the flared part extends in the height direction; and a return path layer that opposes the main magnetic pole layer with a nonmagnetic layer therebetween, the return path layer being exposed in the opposing surface, wherein the pole straight part of the main magnetic pole layer as viewed from the opposing surface has a trapezoidal shape over an entire length of the pole straight part in the height direction, the trapezoidal shape being narrowed at the nonmagnetic insulating layer-side, wherein the flared part as viewed from the opposing surface has a trapezoidal shape at least at a junction with the pole straight part, the trapezoidal shape being narrowed at the nonmagnetic insulating layer-side, wherein the trapezoidal shape of the flared part changes as the flared portion extends in the height direction from the junction with the pole straight part such that a ratio of a length of a long base of the trapezoid to a length of a short base of the trapezoid is equal to 1.