Patent ID: 7788798

Claim:
A method for manufacturing a magnetic write head for perpendicular magnetic recording, comprising: providing a substrate; forming a magnetic write pole layer over the substrate, the write pole layer having a first mask structure formed thereover, the first mask structure including a hard mask layer directly on top of the magnetic write pole layer; conformally depositing a non-magnetic material; performing a directional material removal process to define a top gap and a side gap; depositing a RIEable refill layer; performing a first chemical mechanical polishing process; forming a RIE mask structure using short wavelength photolithography, the RIE mask structure having an opening configured to define a wrap around shield; performing a first reactive ion etching to remove portions of the RIEable refill layer that are not protected by the RIE mask structure; and electroplating a magnetic material to form the wrap-around shield.