MICROWAVE-ASSISTED MAGNETIC RECORDING WITH COLLOCATED MICROWAVE AND WRITE FIELDS

• US 20100309577A1
• Filed: 06/04/2009
• Published: 12/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: Cazacu, Alexandru, Gao, Kaizhong, Lamberton, Robert William, Mallary, Michael Leigh
• Granted Patent: US 8,422,159 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 360/75
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2005/0005 Arrangements, methods or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2005/0024 Microwave assisted recording
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/02 Recording, reproducing, or erasing methods; Read, write or erase circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/314 where the layers are extra layers normally not provided in the transducing structure, e.g. optical layers G11B5/3196 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/6005 Specially adapted for spacing from a rotating disc using a fluid cushion

Abstract

Methods and devices are provided for microwave-assisted magnetic recording with collocated microwave and write fields. An illustrative device includes a magnetic write pole and one or more alternating-field components. The magnetic write pole is configured for providing a magnetic write field. The one or more alternating-field components are disposed to at least partially coincide with the magnetic write pole. The one or more alternating-field components are configured to provide an alternating magnetic field having a microwave frequency and an orientation that is at least partially transverse to the magnetic write field.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a magnetic write pole configured for providing a magnetic write field; and

one or more alternating-field components disposed to at least partially coincide with the magnetic write pole, such that the one or more alternating-field components are configured to provide an alternating magnetic field having a microwave frequency and an orientation that is at least partially transverse to the magnetic write field.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more alternating-field components at least partially coincide with the magnetic write pole on an along-track longitudinal position.

3. The device of claim 1, in which at least a portion of the one or more alternating-field components passes through the magnetic write pole.

4. The device of claim 1, in which the one or more alternating-field components comprise a conductive element.

5. The device of claim 4, in which the conductive element is configured to carry an alternating electrical current at a microwave frequency.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the conductive element comprises a conductive wire.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the conductive wire passes through the magnetic write pole.

8. The device of claim 7, in which the conductive element further comprises conductive leads on opposing sides of the magnetic write pole, and the conductive wire is connected to the conductive leads.

9. The device of claim 7, further comprising a yoke on which the magnetic write pole is disposed, and a magnetic return shield disposed longitudinally proximate to the magnetic write pole, and the conductive element further comprises a first conductive lead that passes adjacent to the yoke and a second conductive lead is connected to the return shield, such that the first and second conductive leads connect with the conductive wire that passes through the magnetic write pole.

10. The device of claim 1, in which the one or more alternating-field components comprise the magnetic write pole.

11. The device of claim 10, in which the one or more alternating-field components further comprise a magnetic return shield and a conductive gap block positioned between the magnetic write pole and the magnetic return shield.

12. The device of claim 1, in which the one or more alternating-field components comprise a magnetic ring having first and second magnetic ring arms positioned on opposing sides of the magnetic write pole.

13. The device of claim 12, further comprising one or more conductive coils positioned proximate to the soft magnetic ring, such that the coils are configured to create alternating currents with frequencies of greater than one gigahertz.

14. The device of claim 12, in which the magnetic write pole has a pole tip air bearing surface with a trailing edge that is narrower than a leading edge of the pole tip air bearing surface, and the first and second magnetic ring arms are positioned closer to the trailing edge than the leading edge.

15. A method comprising:

positioning a magnetic recording head proximate to and in motion relative to a magnetic recording medium, such that the direction of the relative motion of the magnetic recording head defines an along-track direction;

providing a perpendicular magnetic write field between a magnetic write pole disposed on the magnetic recording head, and a magnetic return shield disposed on the magnetic recording head, the perpendicular magnetic write field being enabled for perpendicular magnetic writing to the magnetic recording medium; and

providing an alternating magnetic field from an alternating-field element that at least partially intersects the magnetic recording head, such that the alternating magnetic field has a microwave frequency and is at least partially collocated with the perpendicular magnetic write field.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the alternating magnetic field has an orientation component that is orthogonal to the perpendicular magnetic write field.

17. The method of claim 15, in which providing the alternating magnetic field comprises providing an alternating electric current having a frequency of at least one gigahertz through the alternating-field element.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing the perpendicular magnetic write field and the alternating magnetic field with overlapping areas of half-maximum field strength on the magnetic recording medium.

19. A device comprising:

a magnetic write pole configured for providing a perpendicular magnetic write field; and

a conductive wire positioned in intersection with the magnetic write pole, wherein the conductive wire is configured for providing a microwave-frequency oscillating magnetic field.

20. The device of claim 19, further comprising first and second conductive leads connected to the conductive wire, such that the microwave-frequency oscillating magnetic field is oriented at an angle to the perpendicular magnetic write field, and in which the magnetic write pole comprises an air bearing surface and the conductive wire is positioned intersecting the air bearing surface of the magnetic write pole.

21. The device of claim 20, further comprising:

a moveable magnetic recording medium;

a suspension apparatus, moveably disposed proximate to the magnetic recording medium; and

a magnetic head, disposed on the suspension apparatus and positionable by the suspension apparatus proximate to the magnetic recording medium, such that the magnetic write pole, the conductive wire, and the first and second conductive leads are disposed on the magnetic head, and such that the conductive wire is configured for providing the microwave-frequency oscillating magnetic field to a position on the magnetic recording medium that overlaps the perpendicular magnetic write field.