Patent ID: 8351304

Claim:
A near-field optical head for recording information by generating a near-field light from an introduced luminous flux to heat a magnetic recording medium rotating in a constant direction and applying a magnetic field to the magnetic recording medium to cause a flux reversal, characterized by including: a slider disposed floating at a predetermined height from the surface of the magnetic recording medium and having an counter surface facing the surface of the magnetic recording medium; a near-field light generating element, formed on the counter surface and having two or more side surfaces each of which are in contact with the counter surface at a certain angle with the counter surface, for generating the near-field light from the top portion of the two or more side surfaces; at least one lower wiring formed on at least one of the side surfaces of the near-field light generating element; a thin-film-like magnetic pole disposed to cover the lower wiring; at least one upper wiring disposed on one of the two sides of the magnetic pole, opposite to the side on which the lower wiring is disposed; at least one side surface wiring connecting the lower wiring and the upper wiring; insulating layers insulating each of the lower wiring, the magnetic pole, and the upper wiring from the others; and a coil wound around the magnetic pole by connecting the lower wiring and the upper wiring alternately and serially using the side surface wiring.