Planar waveguide for heat assisted magnetic recording
First Claim
1. A recording head comprising:
- a magnetic write pole; and
a planar waveguide positioned adjacent to the magnetic write pole, the planar waveguide including a first metal layer, a second metal layer, a first optical layer positioned between the first and second metal layers, and means for coupling an electromagnetic wave to the first optical layer at a resonant incident angle.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Recording heads are provided that comprise a magnetic write pole, and a planar waveguide positioned adjacent to the magnetic write pole, the planar waveguide including a first metal layer, a second metal layer, a first optical layer positioned between the first and second metal layers, and means for coupling an electromagnetic wave to the first optical layer at a resonant incident angle. The means for coupling an electromagnetic wave to the first optical layer at a resonant incident angle can comprise a second optical layer positioned adjacent to a surface of the second metal layer opposite the first optical layer and/or a diffraction grating. Means can also be provided for confining the electromagnetic wave in a direction parallel to the plane of the first optical layer. Disc drives incorporating the recording heads and a method of magnetic recording performed by the recording heads are also disclosed.
-
Citations
32 Claims
-
1. A recording head comprising:
-
a magnetic write pole; and
a planar waveguide positioned adjacent to the magnetic write pole, the planar waveguide including a first metal layer, a second metal layer, a first optical layer positioned between the first and second metal layers, and means for coupling an electromagnetic wave to the first optical layer at a resonant incident angle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A recording head comprising:
-
a magnetic write pole; and
a planar waveguide positioned adjacent to the magnetic write pole, the planar waveguide including a first metal layer, a second metal layer, a first optical layer positioned between the first and second metal layers, and a grating positioned on a surface of the first metal layer for coupling an electromagnetic wave into the first optical layer. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A disc drive comprising:
-
means for rotating a storage medium; and
means for positioning a recording head adjacent to a surface of the storage medium;
wherein the recording head comprises a magnetic write pole and a planar waveguide positioned adjacent to the magnetic write pole, the planar waveguide including a first metal layer, a second metal layer, a first optical layer positioned between the first and second metal layers, and means for coupling an electromagnetic wave to the first optical layer at a resonant incident angle. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A disc drive comprising:
-
means for rotating a storage medium; and
means for positioning a recording head adjacent to a surface of the storage medium;
wherein the recording head comprises a magnetic write pole and a planar waveguide positioned adjacent to the magnetic write pole, the planar waveguide including a first metal layer, a second metal layer, a first optical layer positioned between the first and second metal layers, and a grating positioned on a surface of the first metal layer for coupling an electromagnetic wave into the first optical layer. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
-
26. A method of magnetic recording comprising:
-
creating a surface plasmon wave in a waveguide positioned adjacent to a magnetic recording pole;
using the electromagnetic fields from the surface plasmon wave to heat a portion of a recording medium; and
using magnetic flux from the recording pole to change the magnetization of the portion of the recording medium. - View Dependent Claims (27)
-
-
28. A planar waveguide comprising:
-
a first metal layer;
a second metal layer;
a first optical layer positioned between the first and second metal layers; and
means for coupling an electromagnetic wave to the first optical layer at a resonant incident angle. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
-
Specification