U.S. patent application number 12/946103 was filed with the patent office on 2012-05-17 for thermally-assisted magnetic recording head comprising plasmon generator.
This patent application is currently assigned to TDK CORPORATION. Invention is credited to TSUTOMU CHOU, EIJI KOMURA, KOJI SHIMAZAWA.
Application Number | 20120120780 12/946103 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45990858 |
Filed Date | 2012-05-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120120780 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KOMURA; EIJI ; et
al. |
May 17, 2012 |
THERMALLY-ASSISTED MAGNETIC RECORDING HEAD COMPRISING PLASMON
GENERATOR
Abstract
Provided is a thermally-assisted magnetic recording head in
which NF-light with sufficiently high light density can be applied
to a medium while a write-field generating point and a near-field
light (NF-light) generating point are close to each other. The head
comprises a plasmon generator provided between a magnetic pole and
a waveguide and configured to be coupled with light propagating
through the waveguide in a surface plasmon mode to emit NF-light.
The plasmon generator comprises: a plasmon propagating part
comprising a propagation edge for propagating surface plasmon
excited by the light; and a light penetration suppressing part with
an extinction coefficient greater than the plasmon propagating
part. The light penetration suppressing part is in surface-contact
with a surface portion of the plasmon propagating part excluding
the propagation edge, and the magnetic pole is in surface-contact
with the light penetration suppressing part. This configuration can
avoid significant reduction in light use efficiency of an optical
system generating NF-light due to partial absorption of
electromagnetic field (light) into the magnetic pole.
Inventors: |
KOMURA; EIJI; (TOKYO,
JP) ; CHOU; TSUTOMU; (TOKYO, JP) ; SHIMAZAWA;
KOJI; (TOKYO, JP) |
Assignee: |
TDK CORPORATION
TOKYO
JP
|
Family ID: |
45990858 |
Appl. No.: |
12/946103 |
Filed: |
November 15, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
369/13.33 ;
977/943; G9B/13.003 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G11B 5/314 20130101;
G11B 5/6088 20130101; G11B 5/3116 20130101; G02B 6/1226 20130101;
G11B 2005/0021 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
369/13.33 ;
G9B/13.003; 977/943 |
International
Class: |
G11B 13/08 20060101
G11B013/08 |
Claims
1. A thermally-assisted magnetic recording head comprising: a
magnetic pole for generating write field from its end on an
opposed-to-medium surface side; a waveguide through which a light
for exciting surface plasmon propagates; and a plasmon generator
provided between the magnetic pole and the waveguide, configured to
be coupled with the light in a surface plasmon mode and to emit
near-field light from a near-field light generating end surface
positioned on the opposed-to-medium surface side, the plasmon
generator comprising: a plasmon propagating part comprising a
propagation edge extending to the near-field light generating end
surface and configured to propagate thereon the surface plasmon
excited by the light, at least a portion of the propagation edge
being opposed to the waveguide with a predetermined distance; and a
light penetration suppressing part formed of a material having an
extinction coefficient greater than an extinction coefficient of a
material that forms the plasmon propagating part, the light
penetration suppressing part being in surface-contact with a
surface portion of the plasmon propagating part, the surface
portion excluding the propagation edge, and the magnetic pole being
in surface-contact with the light penetration suppressing part.
2. The thermally-assisted magnetic recording head as claimed in
claim 1, wherein the magnetic pole is separated from the plasmon
propagating part with the light penetration suppressing part
sandwiched therebetween.
3. The thermally-assisted magnetic recording head as claimed in
claim 1, wherein the light penetration suppressing part covers a
back surface of the plasmon propagating part, the back surface
being on a side opposite to a propagation surface that includes the
propagation edge.
4. The thermally-assisted magnetic recording head as claimed in
claim 1, wherein the light penetration suppressing part is formed
of a material selected from a group consisting of aluminum,
magnesium, indium, and tin, or is formed of an alloy containing at
least one element selected from the group.
5. The thermally-assisted magnetic recording head as claimed in
claim 1, wherein: the magnetic pole comprises a protrusion that
protrudes toward the waveguide; the plasmon propagating part covers
at least a portion on the opposed-to-medium surface side of a
magnetic pole edge, which is a protruding end of the protrusion,
with the light penetration suppressing part sandwiched
therebetween; and an end on the opposed-to-medium surface side of
the magnetic pole edge, which is a write field generating location,
is close to an end on the opposed-to-medium surface side of the
propagation edge, which is a near-field light generating
location.
6. The thermally-assisted magnetic recording head as claimed in
claim 5, wherein a distance between the end on the
opposed-to-medium surface side of the magnetic pole edge and the
end on the opposed-to-medium surface side of the propagation edge
is 15 nanometers or more, and 100 nanometers or less.
7. The thermally-assisted magnetic recording head as claimed in
claim 1, wherein the light penetration suppressing part has a
thickness of 1 nanometer or more and of 24 nanometers or less.
8. The thermally-assisted magnetic recording head as claimed in
claim 1, wherein the plasmon propagating part has a thickness of 11
nanometers or more and of 99 nanometers or less.
9. The thermally-assisted magnetic recording head as claimed in
claim 1, wherein a magnetic shield is provided on a side opposite
to the magnetic pole when viewed from the plasmon generator.
10. The thermally-assisted magnetic recording head as claimed in
claim 1, wherein a buffering portion having a refractive index
lower than a refractive index of the waveguide is provided in a
region including a portion sandwiched between the waveguide and the
propagation edge.
11. A head gimbal assembly comprising: a thermally-assisted
magnetic recording head as claimed in claim 1; and a suspension
supporting the thermally-assisted magnetic recording head.
12. A magnetic recording apparatus comprising: at least one head
gimbal assembly comprising: a thermally-assisted magnetic recording
head; and a suspension supporting the thermally-assisted magnetic
recording head; at least one magnetic recording medium; and a
recording circuit configured to control write operations that the
thermally-assisted magnetic recording head performs to the at least
one magnetic recording medium, the thermally-assisted magnetic
recording head comprising: a magnetic pole for generating write
field from its end on an opposed-to-medium surface side; a
waveguide through which a light for exciting surface plasmon
propagates; and a plasmon generator provided between the magnetic
pole and the waveguide, configured to be coupled with the light in
a surface plasmon mode and to emit near-field light from a
near-field light generating end surface positioned on the
opposed-to-medium surface side, the plasmon generator comprising: a
plasmon propagating part comprising a propagation edge extending to
the near-field light generating end surface and configured to
propagate thereon the surface plasmon excited by the light, at
least a portion of the propagation edge being opposed to the
waveguide with a predetermined distance; and a light penetration
suppressing part formed of a material having an extinction
coefficient greater than an extinction coefficient of a material
that forms the plasmon propagating part, the light penetration
suppressing part being in surface-contact with a surface portion of
the plasmon propagating part, the surface portion excluding the
propagation edge, the magnetic pole being in surface-contact with
the light penetration suppressing part, and the recording circuit
further comprising a light-emission control circuit configured to
control operations of a light source that generates the light for
exciting surface plasmon.
13. The magnetic recording apparatus as claimed in claim 12,
wherein the magnetic pole is separated from the plasmon propagating
part with the light penetration suppressing part sandwiched
therebetween.
14. The magnetic recording apparatus as claimed in claim 12,
wherein the light penetration suppressing part covers a back
surface of the plasmon propagating part, the back surface being on
a side opposite to a propagation surface that includes the
propagation edge.
15. The magnetic recording apparatus as claimed in claim 12,
wherein the light penetration suppressing part is formed of a
material selected from a group consisting of aluminum, magnesium,
indium, and tin, or is formed of an alloy containing at least one
element selected from the group.
16. The magnetic recording apparatus as claimed in claim 12,
wherein: the magnetic pole comprises a protrusion that protrudes
toward the waveguide; the plasmon propagating part covers at least
a portion on the opposed-to-medium surface side of a magnetic pole
edge, which is a protruding end of the protrusion, with the light
penetration suppressing part sandwiched therebetween; and an end on
the opposed-to-medium surface side of the magnetic pole edge, which
is a write field generating location, is close to an end on the
opposed-to-medium surface side of the propagation edge, which is a
near-field light generating location.
17. The magnetic recording apparatus as claimed in claim 12,
wherein a magnetic shield is provided on a side opposite to the
magnetic pole when viewed from the plasmon generator.
18. The magnetic recording apparatus as claimed in claim 12,
wherein a buffering portion having a refractive index lower than a
refractive index of the waveguide is provided in a region including
a portion sandwiched between the waveguide and the propagation
edge.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a head used for
thermally-assisted magnetic recording in which a magnetic recording
medium is irradiated with near-field light (NF-light), thereby
anisotropic magnetic field of the medium is lowered, thus data can
be written. The present invention especially relates to a
thermally-assisted magnetic recording head provided with a plasmon
generator that converts light received from a waveguide into
NF-light. Further, the present invention relates to a magnetic
recording apparatus provided with the head.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] With the explosion in the use of the Internet in these
years, a huge amount of data that are incommensurably larger than
ever are stored and used on servers, information processing
terminals, home electric appliances and so on. This trend is
expected to further grow at an accelerated rate. Under these
circumstances, demand for magnetic recording apparatuses such as
magnetic disk apparatuses as mass storage is growing, and the
demand for higher recording densities of the magnetic recording
apparatuses is also escalating.
[0005] In the magnetic recording technology, it is necessary for
magnetic heads to write smaller recording bits on magnetic
recording media in order to achieve higher recording densities. In
order to stably form smaller recording bits, perpendicular magnetic
recording technology has been commercially implemented in which
components of magnetization perpendicular to the surface of a
medium are used as recording bits. In addition, thermally-assisted
magnetic recording technology that enables the use of magnetic
recording media having higher thermal stability of magnetization is
being actively developed.
[0006] In the thermally-assisted magnetic recording technology, a
magnetic recording medium formed of a magnetic material with a
large magnetic anisotropy energy K.sub.U is used so as to stabilize
the magnetization; anisotropic magnetic field of the medium is
reduced by applying heat to a portion of the medium where data is
to be written; just after that, writing is performed by applying
write magnetic field (write field) to the heated portion. Generally
proposed is a method in which the magnetic recording medium is
irradiated and heated with near-field light (NF-light). The spot of
the NF-light is set to be minute; the very small spot size can be
realized which is free of diffraction limit. For example, U.S. Pat.
No. 6,768,556 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,649,894 disclose a technique in
which NF-light is generated by irradiating a metal scatterer with
light and by matching the frequency of the light with the resonant
frequency of plasmon excited in the metal.
[0007] As described above, various kinds of thermally-assisted
magnetic recording systems with elements that generate NF-light
have been proposed. Meanwhile, the present inventors have devised a
technique in which laser light is coupled with a plasmon generator
in a surface plasmon mode and excited surface plasmon is propagated
to an opposed-to-medium surface, thereby providing NF-light,
instead of directly applying the laser light to an element that
generates NF-light. In the plasmon generator, its temperature does
not excessively rise because light (waveguide light) that
propagates through a waveguide is not directly applied to the
plasmon generator. As a result, there can be avoided a situation in
which the end of a read head element, which reaches the
opposed-to-medium surface, becomes relatively far apart from the
magnetic recording medium due to the thermal expansion of the
generator, which makes it difficult to properly read servo signals
during recording operations. In addition, there can also be avoided
a situation in which the light use efficiency of an optical system
for generating NF-light including the waveguide and the generator
is degraded because thermal fluctuation of free electrons increases
in the generator. Here, the light use efficiency is given by
I.sub.OUT/I.sub.IN (.times.100), where I.sub.IN is the intensity of
laser light incident to the waveguide, and I.sub.OUT is the
intensity of NF-light emitted from a NF-light generating end of the
generator.
[0008] When an optical system including a plasmon generator such as
the one described above is used to perform thermally-assisted
magnetic recording in practice, an end surface of the plasmon
generator and an end surface of a magnetic pole that generates
write magnetic field need to be provided as close to each other as
possible at an opposed-to-medium surface. More specifically, the
distance between a NF-light generating location on the end surface
of the plasmon generator and the write field generating location on
the end surface of the magnetic pole needs to be sufficiently
small. When the requirements described above are satisfied, the
gradient of write field generated from the magnetic pole at the
location on a magnetic recording medium that are irradiated with
the NF-light can be sufficiently large and thereby
thermally-assisted magnetic recording with high recording density
can be achieved.
[0009] However, in general, in the presence of a metal close to the
plasmon generator, some amount of surface plasmon propagating along
the plasmon generator is partially absorbed in the metal. To avoid
significant reduction in the light use efficiency of the optical
system that generates NF-light due to absorption of surface plasmon
into the magnetic pole made of magnetic metal, the plasmon
generator and the magnetic pole need to be located at a sufficient
distance from each other. This requirement conflicts with the
requirement that the distance between the NF-light generating
location and the write-field generating location be sufficiently
small. To resolve the conflict, appropriate configurations and
locations of the plasmon generator and the magnetic pole are
critically important. It is also essential to appropriately control
the location of NF-light generation on the end surface of the
plasmon generator.
[0010] It can be understood that, for proper thermally-assisted
magnetic recording, it is a critical issue to sufficiently reduce
the distance between the NF-light generating location on the
plasmon generator and the write field generating location on the
magnetic pole while suppressing absorption of surface plasmon
propagating along the plasmon generator.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] Some terms used in the specification will be defined before
explaining the present invention. In a layered structure or an
element structure formed on an element-formation surface of a
slider substrate of the magnetic recording head according to the
present invention, when viewed from a standard layer or element, a
substrate side is defined as "lower" side, and the opposite side as
an "upper" side. Further, "X-, Y- and Z-axis directions" are
indicated in some figures showing embodiments of the head according
to the present invention as needed. Here, Z-axis direction
indicates above-described "up-and-low" direction, and +Z direction
corresponds to a trailing side and -Z direction to a leading side.
And Y-axis direction indicates a track width direction, and X-axis
direction indicates a height direction.
[0012] Further, a "side surface" of a waveguide provided within the
magnetic recording head is defined as an end surface other than the
end surfaces perpendicular to the direction in which light
propagates within the waveguide (-X direction), out of all the end
surfaces surrounding the waveguide. According to the definition, an
"upper surface" and a "lower surface" are one of the "side
surfaces". The "side surface" is a surface on which the propagating
light can be totally reflected in the waveguide that corresponds to
a core.
[0013] According to the present invention, a thermally-assisted
magnetic recording head is provided, which comprises:
[0014] a magnetic pole for generating write field from its end on
an opposed-to-medium surface side;
[0015] a waveguide through which a light for exciting surface
plasmon propagates; and
[0016] a plasmon generator provided between the magnetic pole and
the waveguide, configured to be coupled with the light in a surface
plasmon mode and to emit near-field light (NF-light) from a
NF-light generating end surface positioned on the opposed-to-medium
surface side.
[0017] Here, the plasmon generator comprises: a plasmon propagating
part comprising a propagation edge extending to the NF-light
generating end surface and configured to propagate thereon the
surface plasmon excited by the light, at least a portion of the
propagation edge being opposed to the waveguide with a
predetermined distance; and a light penetration suppressing part
formed of a material having an extinction coefficient greater than
an extinction coefficient of a material that forms the plasmon
propagating part.
[0018] Further, the light penetration suppressing part is in
surface-contact with a surface portion of the plasmon propagating
part, the surface portion excluding the propagation edge, and the
magnetic pole is in surface-contact with the light penetration
suppressing part.
[0019] In the above-described thermally-assisted magnetic recording
head, a plasmon generator including a light penetration suppressing
part is used and a magnetic pole is placed in contact with the
plasmon generator in such a manner that the magnetic pole is in
surface-contact with the light penetration suppressing part. This
configuration using the light penetration suppressing part can
avoid significant reduction in the light use efficiency of an
optical system generating NF-light due to partial absorption of
electromagnetic field (light) propagating along the plasmon
generator into the magnetic pole. Furthermore, in the
thermally-assisted magnetic recording head according to the present
invention, the write field generating point WFP of the magnetic
pole and the NF-light generating point NFP of the plasmon generator
can be located close to each other and NF-light with a sufficiently
high light density can be applied to a magnetic recording medium.
As a result, thermally-assisted magnetic recording with a higher
recording density can be achieved.
[0020] Furthermore, in the thermally-assisted magnetic recording
head according to the present invention, the magnetic pole is
preferably separated from the plasmon propagating part with the
light penetration suppressing part sandwiched therebetween, and the
light penetration suppressing part preferably covers a back surface
of the plasmon propagating part, the back surface being on a side
opposite to a propagation surface that includes the propagation
edge. Further, the light penetration suppressing part is formed of
a material selected from a group consisting of Al (aluminum), Mg
(magnesium), In (indium), and Sn (tin), or is formed of an alloy
containing at least one element selected from the group.
Furthermore, it is preferable that: the magnetic pole comprises a
protrusion that protrudes toward the waveguide; the plasmon
propagating part covers at least a portion on the opposed-to-medium
surface side of a magnetic pole edge, which is a protruding end of
the protrusion, with the light penetration suppressing part
sandwiched therebetween; and an end on the opposed-to-medium
surface side of the magnetic pole edge, which is a write field
generating location, is close to an end on the opposed-to-medium
surface side of the propagation edge, which is a NF-light
generating location.
[0021] Further, in the thermally-assisted magnetic recording head
according to the present invention, a distance between the end on
the opposed-to-medium surface side of the magnetic pole edge and
the end on the opposed-to-medium surface side of the propagation
edge is 15 nm (nanometers) or more, and 100 nm or less. The light
penetration suppressing part preferably has a thickness of 1 nm or
more and of 24 nm or less. The plasmon propagating part preferably
has a thickness of 11 nm or more and of 99 nm or less.
[0022] Furthermore, in the thermally-assisted magnetic recording
head according to the present invention, a magnetic shield is
preferably provided on a side opposite to the magnetic pole when
viewed from the plasmon generator. Further, it is preferable that a
buffering portion having a refractive index lower than a refractive
index of the waveguide is provided in a region including a portion
sandwiched between the waveguide and the propagation edge.
[0023] According to the present invention, a head gimbal assembly
(HGA) is further provided, which comprises the above-described
thermally-assisted magnetic recording head and a suspension
supporting the thermally-assisted magnetic recording head.
[0024] According to the present invention, a magnetic recording
apparatus is furthermore provided, which comprises: at least one
HGA described above; at least one magnetic recording medium; and a
recording circuit configured to control write operations that the
thermally-assisted magnetic recording head performs to the at least
one magnetic recording medium, the recording circuit further
comprising a light-emission control circuit configured to control
operations of a light source that generates the light for exciting
surface plasmon.
[0025] Further objects and advantages of the present invention will
be apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments
of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying figures. In
each figure, the same element as an element shown in other figure
is indicated by the same reference numeral. Further, the ratio of
dimensions within an element and between elements becomes arbitrary
for viewability.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] FIG. 1a shows a perspective view schematically illustrating
an embodiment of a magnetic recording apparatus according to the
present invention;
[0027] FIG. 1b shows a perspective view schematically illustrating
an embodiment of a head gimbal assembly (HGA) according to the
present invention;
[0028] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view illustrating an embodiment
of thermally-assisted the magnetic recording head according to the
present invention;
[0029] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view taken by plane A in FIG.
2, schematically illustrating the structure of a main part of the
thermally-assisted magnetic recording head;
[0030] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view schematically illustrating
the configuration of the waveguide, the plasmon generator and the
main magnetic pole;
[0031] FIG. 5 shows a plan view illustrating the shapes of the end
surfaces of the waveguide, the plasmon generator and the
electromagnetic transducer on the head end surface or in its
vicinity;
[0032] FIG. 6 shows a schematic view for explaining the
thermally-assisted magnetic recording utilizing a surface plasmon
mode according to the present invention;
[0033] FIG. 7a1 to 7c show schematic views illustrating different
embodiments of an optical system that generates NF-light and a main
magnetic pole according to the present invention;
[0034] FIG. 8 shows a schematic diagram illustrating a system on
which the analytical simulation experiment was conducted as
practical examples; and
[0035] FIG. 9 shows a graph illustrating the relation between the
thickness of the light penetration suppressing part and the light
density max|E|.sup.2 at a distance D.sub.WN of 35 nm.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0036] FIG. 1a shows a perspective view schematically illustrating
an embodiment of a magnetic recording apparatus according to the
present invention. FIG. 1b shows a perspective view schematically
illustrating an embodiment of a head gimbal assembly (HGA)
according to the present invention. Here, in the perspective view
of the HGA, the side of the HGA, which is opposed to the surface of
the magnetic recording medium, is presented as the upper side.
[0037] A magnetic disk apparatus as a magnetic recording apparatus
shown in FIG. 1a includes: a plurality of magnetic disks 10 as
magnetic recording media, rotating around a rotational axis of a
spindle motor 11; an assembly carriage device 12 provided with a
plurality of drive arms 14 therein; a head gimbal assembly (HGA) 17
attached on the top end portion of each drive arm 14 and provided
with a thermally-assisted magnetic recording head 21 as a thin-film
magnetic head; and a recording/reproducing and light-emission
control circuit 13 for controlling write/read operations of the
thermally-assisted magnetic recording head 21 and further for
controlling the emission operation of a laser diode as a light
source that generates laser light used for thermally-assisted
magnetic recording, which will be described later.
[0038] In the present embodiment, the magnetic disk 10 is designed
for perpendicular magnetic recording, and has a structure in which
sequentially stacked on a disk substrate is a soft-magnetic under
layer, an intermediate layer, and a magnetic recording layer
(perpendicular magnetization layer). The assembly carriage device
12 is a device for positioning the thermally-assisted magnetic
recording head 21 above a track on which recording bits are
aligned, the track being formed on the magnetic recording layer of
the magnetic disk 10. In the apparatus, the drive arms 14 are
stacked in a direction along a pivot bearing axis 16 and can be
angularly swung around the axis 16 by a voice coil motor (VCM) 15.
The structure of the magnetic disk apparatus according to the
present invention is not limited to that described above. For
instance, the number of each of magnetic disks 10, drive arms 14,
HGAs 17 and thermally-assisted magnetic recording heads 21 may be
single.
[0039] Referring to FIG. 1b, a suspension 20 in the HGA 17 includes
a load beam 200, a flexure 201 with elasticity fixed to the load
beam 200, and a base plate 202 provided on the base portion of the
load beam 200. Further, on the flexure 201, there is provided a
wiring member 203 that is made up of lead conductors and connection
pads electrically joined to both ends of the lead conductors. The
thermally-assisted magnetic recording head 21 is fixed to the
flexure 201 at the top end portion of the suspension 20 so as to
face the surface of the magnetic disk 10 with a predetermined
spacing (flying height). Moreover, one end of the wiring member 203
is electrically connected to terminal electrodes of the
thermally-assisted magnetic recording head 21. The structure of the
suspension 20 is not limited to the above-described one. An IC chip
for driving the head may be mounted midway on the suspension 20,
though not shown.
[0040] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view illustrating an embodiment
of thermally-assisted magnetic recording head 21 according to the
present invention.
[0041] As shown in FIG. 2, a thermally-assisted magnetic recording
head 21 is constituted of the slider 22 and the light source unit
23. The slider 22 includes: a slider substrate 220 formed of, for
example, a ceramic material such as AlTiC (Al.sub.2O.sub.3--TiC) or
silicon oxide (SiO.sub.2), and having an air bearing surface (ABS)
2200 processed so as to provide an appropriate flying height; and a
head element part 221 formed on an element-formation surface 2202
perpendicular to and adjacent to the ABS 2200. While, the light
source unit 23 includes: a unit substrate 230 formed of, for
example, a ceramic or semiconductor material such as AlTiC
(Al.sub.2O.sub.3--TiC), Si, GaAs or SiC, and having an joining
surface 2300; and a laser diode 40 as a light source provided on a
source-installation surface 2302 perpendicular to and adjacent to
the joining surface 2300. The slider 22 and the light source unit
23 are bonded to each other by using, for example, a solder in such
a way that the back surface 2201 of the slider substrate 220 and
the joining surface 2300 of the unit substrate 230 are joined to
each other. Here, the back surface 2201 of the slider substrate 220
is defined as an end surface opposite to the ABS 2200 of the slider
substrate 220. Alternatively, the thermally-assisted magnetic
recording head 21 may have a configuration in which the laser diode
40 is provided directly on the slider 22 without using the light
source unit 23.
[0042] In the slider 22, the head element part 221 formed on the
element-formation surface 2202 of the slider substrate 220
includes: a head element 32 constituted of a magnetoresistive (MR)
element 33 for reading data from a magnetic disk and an
electromagnetic transducer 34 for writing data to the magnetic
disk; a waveguide 35 for guiding laser light generated from a laser
diode 40 provided in the light source unit 23 to the
opposed-to-medium surface side; a plasmon generator 36, the
generator 36 and the waveguide 35 constituting an optical system
that generates near-field light (NF-light); an overcoat layer 38
formed on the element-formation surface 2202 in such a way as to
cover the MR element 33, the electromagnetic transducer 34, the
waveguide 35, and the plasmon generator 36; a pair of terminal
electrodes 370 exposed in the upper surface of the overcoat layer
38 and electrically connected to the MR element 33; and a pair of
terminal electrodes 371 also exposed in the upper surface of the
overcoat layer 38 and electrically connected to the electromagnetic
transducer 34. The terminal electrodes 370 and 371 are electrically
connected to the connection pads of the wiring member 203 provided
on the flexure 201 (FIG. 1b).
[0043] One ends of the MR element 33, the electromagnetic
transducer 34 and the plasmon generator 36 reach a head end surface
2210, which is an opposed-to-medium surface of the head part 221.
Here, the head end surface 2210 and the ABS 2200 constitute the
whole opposed-to-medium surface of the thermally-assisted magnetic
recording head 21. During actual write and read operations,
thermally-assisted magnetic recording head 21 aerodynamically flies
above the surface of the rotating magnetic disk with a
predetermined flying height. Thus, the ends of the MR element 33
and electromagnetic transducer 34 face the surface of the magnetic
recording layer of the magnetic disk 10 (FIG. 1a) with an
appropriate magnetic spacing. Then, the MR element 33 reads data by
sensing signal magnetic field from the magnetic recording layer,
and the electromagnetic transducer 34 writes data by applying
signal magnetic field to the magnetic recording layer. When writing
data, laser light generated from the laser diode 40 of the light
source unit 23 propagates through the waveguide 35. Then, the
propagating laser light is coupled with the plasmon generator 36 in
a surface plasmon mode, and causes surface plasmon to be excited on
the plasmon generator 36. The surface plasmon propagates on a
propagation edge provided in the plasmon generator 36, which will
be explained later, toward the head end surface 2210, which causes
NF-light to be generated from the end of the plasmon generator 36
on the head end surface 2210 side. The generated NF-light reaches
the surface of the magnetic disk, and heats a portion of the
magnetic recording layer of the magnetic disk. As a result, the
anisotropic magnetic field (coercive force) of the portion is
decreased to a value that enables writing; thus the
thermally-assisted magnetic recording can be accomplished by
applying write field generated from the electromagnetic transducer
34 to the portion with decreased anisotropic magnetic field.
[0044] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view taken by plane A in FIG.
2, schematically illustrating the structure of a main part of the
thermally-assisted magnetic recording head 21.
[0045] As shown in FIG. 3, the MR element 33 is formed on an
insulating layer 380 stacked on the element-formation surface 2202,
and includes: an MR multilayer 332; and a lower shield layer 330
and an upper shield layer 334 which sandwich the MR multilayer 332
and an insulating layer 381 therebetween. The upper and lower
shield layers 334 and 330 prevent the MR multilayer 332 from
receiving external magnetic field as a noise. The MR multilayer 332
is a magneto-sensitive part for detecting signal magnetic field by
using MR effect. The MR multilayer 332 may be, for example: a
current-in-plane giant magnetoresistive (CIP-GMR) multilayer that
utilizes CIP-GMR effect; a current-perpendicular-to-plane giant
magnetoresistive (CPP-GMR) multilayer that utilizes CPP-GMR effect;
or a tunnel magnetoresistive (TMR) multilayer that utilizes TMR
effect. The MR multilayer 332 that utilizes any MR effect described
above can detect signal magnetic field from the magnetic disk with
high sensitivity. In the case that the MR multilayer 332 is a
CPP-GMR multilayer or a TMR multilayer, the upper and lower shield
layers 334 and 330 act as electrodes.
[0046] Referring also to FIG. 3, the electromagnetic transducer 34
is designed for perpendicular magnetic recording, and includes an
upper yoke layer 340, a main magnetic pole 3400, a write coil layer
343, a coil-insulating layer 344, a lower yoke layer 345, and a
lower shield 3450.
[0047] The upper yoke layer 340 is formed so as to cover the
coil-insulating layer 344, and the main magnetic pole 3400 is
formed on an insulating layer 385 made of an insulating material
such as Al.sub.2O.sub.3 (alumina). These upper yoke layer 340 and
main magnetic pole 3400 are magnetically connected with each other,
and acts as a magnetic path for converging and guiding magnetic
flux toward the magnetic recording layer (perpendicular
magnetization layer) of the magnetic disk, the magnetic flux being
excited by write current flowing through the write coil layer 343.
The main magnetic pole 3400 reaches the head end surface 2210, and
the end surface 3400e of the pole 3400, which is a portion of the
end surface 2210, has a vertex closest to the lower shield 3450
(most on the leading side), the vertex being a point (WFP: FIG. 5)
where write field is generated. This minute write-field-generating
point of the main magnetic pole 3400 enables a fine write field
responding to higher recording density to be generated. The main
magnetic pole 3400 is formed of a soft-magnetic material with a
saturation magnetic flux density higher than that of the upper yoke
layer 340, which is, for example, an iron alloy containing Fe as a
main component, such as FeNi, FeCo, FeCoNi, FeN or FeZrN. The
thickness of the main magnetic pole is, for example, in the range
of approximately 0.1 to 0.8 .mu.m (micrometer).
[0048] The write coil layer 343 is formed on an insulating layer
3421 made of an insulating material such as Al.sub.2O.sub.3
(alumina), in such a way as to pass through in one turn at least
between the lower yoke layer 345 and the upper yoke layer 340, and
has a spiral structure with a back contact portion 3402 as a
center. The write coil layer 343 is formed of a conductive material
such as Cu (copper). The write coil layer 343 is covered with a
coil-insulating layer 344 that is formed of an insulating material
such as a heat-cured photoresist and electrically isolates the
write coil layer 343 from the upper yoke layer 340. The write coil
layer 343 has a monolayer structure in the present embodiment.
However, the write coil layer 343 may have a two or more layered
structure, or may have a helical coil shape in which the upper yoke
layer 340 is sandwiched therebetween. Further, the number of turns
of the write coil layer 343 is not limited to that shown in FIG. 3,
and may be, for example, in the range from two to seven.
[0049] The back contact portion 3402 has a though-hole extending in
X-axis direction, and the waveguide 35 and insulating layers that
cover the waveguide 35 pass through the though-hole. In the
though-hole, the waveguide 35 is away at a predetermined distance
of, for example, at least 1 .mu.m from the inner wall of the back
contact portion 3402. The distance prevents the absorption of the
waveguide light by the back contact portion 3402.
[0050] The lower yoke layer 345 is formed on an insulating layer
383 made of an insulating material such as Al.sub.2O.sub.3
(alumina), and acts as a magnetic path for the magnetic flux
returning from a soft-magnetic under layer that is provided under
the magnetic recording layer (perpendicular magnetization layer) of
the magnetic disk 10 (FIG. 1a). The lower yoke layer 345 is formed
of a soft-magnetic material, and its thickness is, for example,
approximately 0.5 to 5 .mu.m. Further, the lower shield 3450 is a
magnetic shield that reaches the head end surface 2210, being
magnetically connected with the lower yoke layer 345. The lower
shield 3450 is provided on the opposite side to the main magnetic
pole 3400 when viewed from the plasmon generator 36 and is opposed
to the main magnetic pole 3400 through the plasmon generator 36,
and acts for receiving the magnetic flux spreading from the main
magnetic pole 3400. The lower shield 3450 is preferably formed of a
material with high saturation magnetic flux density such as NiFe
(Permalloy) or an iron alloy as the main magnetic pole 3400 is
formed of.
[0051] Referring also to FIG. 3, the waveguide 35 and the plasmon
generator 36 are provided between the lower yoke layer 345 (lower
shield 3450) and an upper yoke layer 340 (main magnetic pole 3400),
and form an optical system for generating NF-light in the head
element part 221. The waveguide 35 is provided in parallel with an
element-formation surface 2202 and extends from the rear end
surface 352 which is a portion of the head rear end surface 2212 to
the end surface 350 on the head end surface 2210 side. A portion of
the upper surface (side surface) of the waveguide 35 and a portion
of the lower surface (including a propagation edge 360) of the
plasmon generator 36 are opposed to each other with a predetermined
distance therebetween. An insulating-layer portion sandwiched
between these portions forms a buffering portion 50 that has a
refractive index lower than that of the waveguide 35. The buffering
portion 50 couples laser light propagating through the waveguide 35
to the plasmon generator 36 in a surface plasmon mode.
[0052] The plasmon generator 36 is located between a waveguide 35
and a main magnetic pole 3400. The plasmon generator 36 includes a
NF-light generating end surface 36a which forms a part of the head
end surface 2210. The plasmon generator 36 also includes a
two-layered structure made up of a plasmon propagating part 361
(FIG. 4) and a light penetration suppressing part 362 (FIG. 4),
which will be described later in detail with reference to FIG. 4.
The plasmon propagating part 361 (FIG. 4) includes a propagation
edge 360 at least a portion of which faces the waveguide 35 with a
buffer portion 50 between them. The propagation edge 360 extends to
the NF-light generating end surface 36a and propagates surface
plasmon excited by laser light (waveguide light) that has traveled
through the waveguide 35. The plasmon generator 36 couples with the
waveguide light in a surface plasmon mode and propagates the
surface plasmon along the propagation edge 360 to generate NF-light
from the NF-light generating end surface 36a. On the other hand,
the light penetration suppressing part 362 (FIG. 4) is made of a
material having an extinction coefficient k.sub.362 greater than
the extinction coefficient k.sub.361 of the material of the plasmon
propagating part 361 and is in surface-contact with a surface
portion of the plasmon propagating part 361, the surface portion
excluding the propagation edge 360.
[0053] The main magnetic pole 3400 is in contact with the plasmon
generator 36 in such a manner that the main magnetic pole 3400 is
in surface-contact with the light penetration suppressing part 362.
In other words, the main magnetic pole 3400 and the plasmon
propagating part 361 are separated from each other with the light
penetration suppressing part 362 sandwiched therebetween. Provision
of the light penetration suppressing part 362 in this relation to
the main magnetic pole 3400 can avoid significant reduction in
light use efficiency of the optical system generating NF-light due
to partial absorption of surface plasmon propagating along the
propagation edge 360 into the main magnetic pole 3400 made of a
magnetic metal. Configuration of the waveguide 35, the plasmon
generator 36 including the plasmon propagating part 361 and the
light penetration suppressing part 362, and the main magnetic pole
3400 will be described later in detail with reference to FIG. 4 to
6.
[0054] Also according to FIG. 3, the light source unit 23 includes:
a laser diode 40 provided on the source-installation surface 2302
of a unit substrate 230; a terminal electrode 410 electrically
connected to a lower electrode 40i as a lower surface of the laser
diode 40; and a terminal electrode 411 electrically connected to an
upper electrode 40a as an upper surface of the laser diode 40. The
terminal electrodes 410 and 411 are electrically connected to the
connection pads of the wiring member 203 provided on the flexure
201 (FIG. 1). By applying a predetermined voltage between both
electrodes 410 and 411 of the laser diode 40, laser light is
emitted from the emission center on an emission surface 400 of the
laser diode 40. Here, in the configuration of the head as shown in
FIG. 3, the oscillation of electric field component of the laser
light generated from the laser diode 40 preferably has a direction
perpendicular to the stacking surface of the active layer 40e
(Z-axis direction). That is, the laser diode 40 preferably
generates a laser light with TM polarization. This enables the
laser light propagating through the waveguide 35 to be coupled with
the plasmon generator 36 through the buffering portion 50 in a
surface plasmon mode.
[0055] A light source such as InP base, GaAs base or GaN base diode
can be utilized as the laser diode 40, which is usually used for
communication, optical disk storage or material analysis. The
wavelength .lamda..sub.L of the radiated laser light may be, for
example, in the range of approximately 375 nm (nanometers) to 1.7
.mu.m. The laser diode 40 has a multilayered structure including an
upper (n-type) electrode 40a, an active layer 40e, and a lower
(p-type) electrode 40i. On the front and rear cleaved surfaces of
the multilayered structure of the laser diode 40, respectively
formed are reflective layers for exciting the oscillation by total
reflection. Here, the laser diode 40 has a thickness T.sub.LA in
the range of, for example, approximately 60 to 200 .mu.m.
[0056] Further, an electric source provided within the magnetic
disk apparatus can be used for driving the laser diode 40. In fact,
the magnetic disk apparatus usually has an electric source with
applying voltage of, for example, approximately 2 to 5V, which is
sufficient for the laser oscillation. The amount of electric power
consumption of the laser diode 40 is, for example, in the order of
several tens mW, which can be covered sufficiently by the electric
source provided within the magnetic disk apparatus. The laser diode
40 and terminal electrodes 410 and 411 are not limited to the
above-described embodiment. For example, the electrodes of the
laser diode 40 can be turned upside down, thus the n-electrode 40a
may be bonded to the source-installation surface 2302 of the unit
substrate 230. Further, alternatively, a laser diode may be
provided on the element-formation surface 2202 of the
thermally-assisted magnetic recording head 21, and then can be
optically connected with the waveguide 35. Furthermore, the
thermally-assisted magnetic recording head 21 may include no laser
diode 40; then, the light-emission center of a laser diode provided
within the magnetic disk apparatus and the rear-end surface 352 of
the waveguide 35 may be connected by using, for example, optical
fiber.
[0057] Each of the slider 22 and light source unit 23 may have an
arbitrary size. For example, the slider 22 may be so-called a femto
slider in which the width in the track width direction (Y-axis
direction) is 700 .mu.m; the length (in Z-axis direction) is 850
.mu.m; and the thickness (in X-axis direction) is 230 .mu.m. In the
case, the light source unit 23 may be one size smaller than the
slider 22, and may have a size, for example, in which the width in
the track width direction is 425 .mu.m; the length is 300 .mu.m;
and the thickness is 300 .mu.m.
[0058] By joining the above-described light source unit 23 and
slider 22, constituted is the thermally-assisted magnetic recording
head 21. In the joining, the joining surface 2300 of the unit
substrate 230 is made having a surface contact with the back
surface 2201 of the slider substrate 220. Then, the locations of
the unit substrate 230 and the slider substrate 220 are determined
in such a way that the laser light generated from the laser diode
40 can directly enter the waveguide 35 through the rear-end surface
352 opposite to the ABS 2200 of the waveguide 35.
[0059] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view schematically illustrating
the configuration of the waveguide 35, the plasmon generator 36 and
the main magnetic pole 3400. In the figure, the head end surface
2210 is positioned at the left side, the end surface 2210 including
positions where write field and NF-light are emitted toward the
magnetic recording medium.
[0060] Referring to FIG. 4, there are provided a waveguide 35 that
propagates laser light 53 for generating NF-light and a plasmon
generator 36 that couples with laser light (waveguide light) 53 in
a surface plasmon mode and generates NF-light used for thermal
assist from a NF-light generating end surface 36a provided on the
head end surface 2210 side.
[0061] The plasmon generator 36 includes a two-layered structure
made up of a plasmon propagating part 361 and a light penetration
suppressing part 362. The plasmon propagating part 361 includes a
propagation edge 360 at least a part of which faces the waveguide
35 with a buffer 50 sandwiched therebetween. The propagation edge
360 extends to a NF-light generating end surface 36a, and
propagates surface plasmon excited by laser light (waveguide light)
53 to the NF-light generating end surface 36a. The light
penetration suppressing part 362, on the other hand, is made of a
material having an extinction coefficient k.sub.352 greater than
the extinction coefficient k.sub.361 of the material of the plasmon
propagating part 361 and is in surface-contact with a portion of
the surface of the plasmon propagating part 361, the surface
portion excluding the propagation edge 360. That is, the light
penetration suppressing part 362 covers the back surface that is
opposite to a propagation surface 361s of the plasmon propagating
part 361 including the propagation edge 360.
[0062] A main magnetic pole 3400 is in contact with the plasmon
generator 36 in such a manner that the main magnetic pole 3400 is
in surface-contact with the light penetration suppressing part 362.
In other words, the main magnetic pole 3400 and the plasmon
propagating part 361 are separated from each other with the light
penetration suppressing part 362 sandwiched therebetween. The main
magnetic pole 3400 has a protrusion 3400a protruding toward the
waveguide 35. The plasmon propagating part 361 covers at least a
portion on the head end surface 2210 side of a magnetic pole edge
3400b, which is the protruding end of the protrusion 3400a, with
the light penetration suppressing part 362 sandwiched therebetween.
The extinction coefficient k.sub.362 of the light penetration
suppressing part 362 is greater than the extinction coefficient
k.sub.361 of the plasmon propagating part 361 as stated above.
Accordingly, light (electromagnetic field) propagating in the
plasmon propagating part 361 and attempting to travel through the
light penetration suppressing part 362 toward the main magnetic
pole 3400 can hardly enter the light penetration suppressing part
362 due to a higher skin effect. Consequently, the light
penetration suppressing part 362 provided between the plasmon
propagating part 361 and the main magnetic pole 3400 as described
above can avoid significant reduction in the light use efficiency
of the optical system generating near-filed light due to partial
absorption of surface plasmon (electromagnetic field) propagating
along the propagation edge 360 into the main magnetic pole 3400
made of a magnetic metal.
[0063] With continued reference to FIG. 4, in the plasmon generator
36, only the light penetration suppressing part 362 is in contact
with the main magnetic pole 3400 as described above. Accordingly,
the propagation edge 360 of the plasmon propagating part 361, which
is on the opposite side to the light penetration suppressing part
362, is reliably separated from the main magnetic pole 3400.
Therefore, surface plasmon excited are hardly absorbed in the main
magnetic pole 3400 and can concentrate on and propagate along the
propagation edge 360. As a result, surface plasmon reliably reaches
the vertex (NFP in FIG. 5) that is one vertex of the NF-light
generating end surface 36a and is an end of the propagation edge
360. Thus the vertex NFP becomes the NF-light generating point of
the plasmon generator 36. The corner of the propagation edge 360 is
rounded in order to prevent surface plasmon from deflecting from
the propagation edge 360 to reduce the light use efficiency. It is
known that the radius of curvature of the rounded corner in the
range of 6.25 to 20 nm is preferable.
[0064] As also shown in FIG. 4, the plasmon generator 36 is in
surface contact with the main magnetic pole 3400. Accordingly, heat
generated from the plasmon generator 36 when generating NF-light
can be partially dissipated into the main magnetic pole 3400. That
is, the main magnetic pole 3400 can be used as a heatsink. As a
result, excessive rise of temperature of the plasmon generator 36
can be suppressed, and an unnecessary protrusion of the NF-light
generating end surface 36a and a substantial reduction in light use
efficiency in the plasmon generator 36 can be avoided. Furthermore,
the plasmon propagating part 361 and the light penetration
suppressing part 362 of the plasmon generator 36 can be formed of a
metal. Therefore, since the plasmon generator 36 is in contact with
the main magnetic pole 3400 also made of a metal, the plasmon
generator 36 is not electrically isolated and thus detrimental
effects of electrostatic discharge (ESD) from the plasmon generator
36 can be inhibited.
[0065] A portion sandwiched between a portion of side surface
(upper surface) 354 of the waveguide 35 and a portion of
propagation surface (lower surface) 361s including the propagation
edge 360 of the plasmon generator 36 forms a buffering portion 50.
That is, the propagation edge 360 is covered with the buffering
portion 50. The buffering portion 50 couples waveguide light 53 to
the plasmon generator 36 in a surface plasmon mode. The propagation
edge 360 propagates surface plasmon, which is excited by the
waveguide light 53 via the buffering portion 50, to the NF-light
generating end surface 36a. The term "side surfaces" of the
waveguide 35 as used herein refers to the end surfaces 351, 353,
and 354 among the surrounding end surfaces of the waveguide 35
except the end surface 350 on the head end surface 2210 side and
the rear end surface 352 opposite to the end surface 350. The side
surfaces of the waveguide 35 are capable of totally reflecting
waveguide light 53 propagating through the waveguide 35 that acts
as a core and the surrounding overcoat layer 38 (FIG. 2) that acts
as a clad. The buffering portion 50 may be a portion of the
overcoat layer 38, or may be a different layer provided in addition
to the overcoat layer 38.
[0066] The plasmon propagating part 361 of the plasmon generator 36
is preferably made of Au (gold, which has an extinction coefficient
k=4.9 at a light wavelength of 800 nm) which has a high NF-light
generation efficiency, an alloy primarily containing Au, Ag
(silver, which has an extinction coefficient k=5.2 at a light
wavelength of 800 nm), or an alloy primarily containing Ag. On the
other hand, the light penetration suppressing part 362 is
preferably made of one material, which has an extinction
coefficient k.sub.362 greater than the extinction coefficient
k.sub.361 of the material of the plasmon propagating part 361,
selected from the group consisting of Al (aluminum, which has an
extinction coefficient k=8.1 at a light wavelength of 800 nm), Mg
(magnesium, which has an extinction coefficient k=8.0 at a light
wavelength of 800 nm), In (indium, which has an extinction
coefficient k=6.6 at a light wavelength of 800 nm), and Sn (tin,
which has an extinction coefficient k=7.3 at a light wavelength of
800 nm), or an alloy containing at least one element selected from
the group. The light penetration suppressing part 362 preferably
has an NF-light generation efficiency higher than the magnetic
material of the main magnetic pole 3400. The width W.sub.NF in the
track width direction (Y-axis direction) and the thickness T.sub.NF
(in Z-axis direction) of the plasmon generator 36 are preferably
smaller than the wavelength of laser light 53. The length (height)
H.sub.NF (in X-axis direction) of the plasmon generator 36 may be
in the range approximately from 0.5 to 6.0 .mu.m, for example.
[0067] Further, the side surfaces of the waveguide 35: the upper
surface 354; the lower surface 353; and both the side surfaces 351
in the track width direction (Y-axis direction) have a surface
contact with the overcoat layer 38 (FIG. 2), that is, the
insulating layers 384 and 385 (FIG. 3), except the portion having a
surface contact with the buffering portion 50. Here, the waveguide
35 is formed of a dielectric material with a refractive index
n.sub.WG higher than a refractive index n.sub.OC of the constituent
material of the overcoat layer 38. For example, in the case that
the wavelength of laser light is 600 nm and the overcoat layer 38
is formed of Al.sub.2O.sub.3 (n=1.63), the waveguide 35 can be
formed of, for example, SiO.sub.XN.sub.Y (n=1.7-1.85), TaO.sub.X
(n=2.16), NbO.sub.X (n=2.33), or TiO.sub.X (n=2.3-2.55). This
material structure of the waveguide 35 enables the propagation loss
of laser light 53 to be reduced due to the excellent optical
characteristics of the constituent material. Further, the existence
of the waveguide 35 as a core and the overcoat layer 38 as a clad
can provide total reflection conditions in all the side surfaces.
As a result, more amount of laser light 53 can reach the position
of the buffering portion 50, which improves the propagation
efficiency of the waveguide 35. Meanwhile, in the present
embodiment, a portion of propagation edge 360 that is not opposed
to the waveguide 35 (buffering portion 50) may be covered with the
constituent material of the overcoat layer 38 having refractive
index n.sub.OC, for example, with a portion 3850 of the insulating
layer 385.
[0068] The waveguide 35 may have a shape with a constant width in
the track width direction (Y-axis direction), or as shown in FIG.
4, may have a portion on the head end surface 2210 side, which has
a narrower width in the track width direction (Y-axis direction).
The width W.sub.WG in the track width direction (Y-axis direction)
of a portion of the waveguide 35 on the head end surface 2210 side
may be, for example, in the range approximately from 0.3 to 100
.mu.m, and the thickness T.sub.WG (in Z-axis direction) may be, for
example, in the range approximately from 0.1 to 4 .mu.m.
[0069] The buffering portion 50 is formed of a dielectric material
having a refractive index n.sub.BF lower than the refractive index
n.sub.WG of the waveguide 35. For example, when the wavelength of
laser light is 600 nm and the waveguide 35 is formed of TaO.sub.X
(n=2.16), the buffering portion 50 may be formed of SiO.sub.2
(n=1.46) or Al.sub.2O.sub.3 (n=1.63). In these cases, the buffering
portion 50 can be a portion of the overcoat layer 38 (FIG. 2)
serving as a clad made of SiO.sub.2 or Al.sub.2O.sub.3. Further,
the length L.sub.BF (in X-axis direction) of a portion of the
buffering portion 50, the portion being sandwiched between the side
surface 354 of the waveguide 35 and the propagation edge 360, is
preferably in the range of 0.5 to 5 .mu.m, and is preferably larger
than the wavelength of the laser light 53. In this preferable case,
the coupled portion has an area markedly larger than a so-called
"focal region" in the case that, for example, laser light is
converged on a buffering portion 50 and a plasmon generator 36 and
is coupled in a surface plasmon mode. As a result, very stable
coupling in the surface plasmon mode can be achieved. The thickness
T.sub.BF of the buffering portion 50 is preferably set to be, for
example, in the range of 10 to 200 nm. The length L.sub.BF and the
thickness T.sub.BF of the buffering portion 50 are important
parameters for obtaining proper excitation and propagation of
surface plasmon.
[0070] FIG. 5 shows a plan view illustrating the shapes of the end
surfaces of the waveguide 35, the plasmon generator 36 and the
electromagnetic transducer 34 on the head end surface 2210 or in
its vicinity.
[0071] As shown in FIG. 5, in the electromagnetic transducer 34,
the main magnetic pole 3400 and the lower shield 3450 reach the
head end surface 2210. The end surface 3400e of the main magnetic
pole 3400 on the head end surface 2210 has a combined shape of: a
trailing-side portion having, for example, a substantially
rectangular, square, or trapezoidal shape; and a end surface 3400ae
of the protrusion 3400a that protrudes toward the waveguide 35. The
vertex WFP most on the leading side in the end surface 3400e is
closest to the lower shield 3450, and therefore magnetic field is
most concentrated at the vertex WFP; thus the vertex WFP becomes a
write-field generating point. Since the main magnetic pole 3400 has
such a small write-field generating point, a minute write field
that meets higher recording density can be generated.
[0072] The NF-light generating end surface 36a of the plasmon
generator 36 at the head end surface 2210 is shaped like a letter V
having a predetermined thickness and includes an end surface 361e
of the plasmon propagating part 361 and end surface 362e of the
light penetration suppressing part 362. An end surface 3400e of the
main magnetic pole 3400 is in contact with the end surface 362e of
the light penetration suppressing part 362. The end surface 3400e
and the end surface 361e of the plasmon propagating part 361 are
separated by the end surface 362e that is sandwiched
therebetween.
[0073] The location of the end surface 362e of the light
penetration suppressing part 362 separates the write field
generating point WFP from the NF-light generating point NFP, which
is the end of the propagation edge 360 on the head end surface 2210
side, by a distance equal to the thickness of the near-filed light
generating end surface 36a in Z-axis direction (thickness t.sub.361
of the end surface 361e of the plasmon propagating part
361+thickness t.sub.362 of the end surface 362e of the light
penetration suppressing part 362). Accordingly, by controlling the
thickness of the plasmon generator 36 to an appropriate small
value, the write field generating point WFP and the NF-light
generating point NFP can be located sufficiently close to each
other while suppressing absorption of surface plasmon through the
use of the light penetration suppressing part 362. As a result, the
magnetic field gradient of write field generated from the main
magnetic pole 3400 can be increased to a sufficient value in a
position on the magnetic disk 10 that is irradiated with NF-light,
and therefore thermally-assisted magnetic recording with high
recording density can be performed.
[0074] It is known that a distance D.sub.WN (=t.sub.361+t.sub.362)
between the points WFP and NFP is preferably 15 nm or more and
preferably 100 nm or less, in order to provide a sufficiently high
magnetic field gradient of write filed in a position on the
magnetic recording layer of the magnetic disk 10 that is irradiated
with NF-light to enable thermally-assisted magnetic recording with
high recording density. The thickness t.sub.362 of the light
penetration suppressing part 362 in Z-axis direction is preferably
1 nm or more and preferably 24 nm or less, and the thickness
t.sub.361 of the plasmon propagating part 361 in Z-axis direction
is preferably 11 nm or more and preferably 99 nm or less, as will
be described with respect to practical examples.
[0075] Separation of the part of the main magnetic pole 3400 that
is not protruding (the part of the main magnetic pole 3400
excluding the protrusion 3400a) and the waveguide 35 by an
appropriate distance D.sub.MW can avoid reduction in the amount of
light ultimately converted to NF-light due to absorption of part of
waveguide light into the main magnetic pole 3400 made of metal and
further absorption of part of NF-light in the magnetic pole. The
relationship between the thicknesses and the distances D.sub.WN and
D is D.sub.MW-t.sub.3400a-D.sub.WN-T.sub.BF=0, where t.sub.3400a is
the thickness of the protrusion 3400a of the main magnetic pole
3400 in Z-axis direction and T.sub.BF is the distance between the
near-filed light generating point NFP and the waveguide 35 in
Z-axis direction, that is, the thickness of the buffer 50 (FIG. 4).
The thickness T.sub.BF is set to a predetermined value in order to
achieve appropriate excitation and propagation of surface
plasmon.
[0076] As has been described above, in a thermally-assisted
magnetic recording head according to the present invention, the
distance D.sub.WN on the head end surface 2210 between the point
NFP that applies heat during writing and the point WFP that writes
data can be set to a sufficiently small value. Accordingly, write
field that has a sufficiently high magnetic field gradient can be
applied to a sufficiently heated portion of the magnetic recording
layer of a magnetic disk. Consequently, considerably small
recording bits that enable high recording density can be
formed.
[0077] FIG. 6 shows a schematic view for explaining the
thermally-assisted magnetic recording utilizing a surface plasmon
mode according to the present invention. The figure shows a case
that the main magnetic pole 3400 is alternatively longer in X-axis
direction than the plasmon generator 36. However, the principle of
thermally-assisted magnetic recording explained below apples to the
respective embodiments shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 6.
[0078] Referring to FIG. 6, when the electromagnetic transducer 34
writes data onto the magnetic recording layer of the magnetic disk
10, first, laser light 53 emitted from the laser diode 40 of the
light source unit 23 propagates through the waveguide 35. Next, the
laser light (waveguide light) 53, which has advanced to near the
buffering portion 50, couples with the optical configuration
including the waveguide 35 with a refractive index n.sub.WG, the
buffering portion 50 with a refractive index n.sub.BF and the
plasmon generator 36 made of a conductive material such as a metal,
and induces a surface plasmon mode on the propagation edge 360 of
the plasmon generator 36. That is, the waveguide light couples with
the plasmon generator 36 in a surface plasmon mode.
[0079] Actually, evanescent light is excited within the buffering
portion 50 based on the optical boundary condition between the
waveguide 35 as a core and the buffering portion 50. Then, the
evanescent light couples with the fluctuation of electric charge
excited on the metal surface (propagation edge 360) of the plasmon
generator 36, and induces a surface plasmon mode, and thus surface
plasmon is excited. To be exact, there excited is surface plasmon
polariton in this system because surface plasmon as elementary
excitation is coupled with an electromagnetic wave. However, the
surface plasmon polariton will be hereinafter referred to as
surface plasmon for short. The above-described surface plasmon mode
can be induced by setting the refractive index n.sub.BF of the
buffering portion 50 to be smaller than the refractive index
n.sub.WG of the waveguide 35 (N.sub.BF<N.sub.WG) and by
appropriately choosing: the length (in X-axis direction) of the
buffering portion 50, that is, the length L.sub.BF of the coupling
portion between the waveguide 35 and the plasmon generator 36; and
the thickness T.sub.BF (in Z-axis direction) of the buffering
portion 50.
[0080] The plasmon generator 36 has a two-layered structure made up
of a plasmon propagating part 361 and a light penetration
suppressing part 362. A propagation edge 360, which is an edge of
the plasmon propagating part 361, is at a distance from the light
penetration suppressing part 362 and is not in contact with a main
magnetic pole 3400 at all. The propagation edge 360 in a
propagation surface (lower surface) 361s of the plasmon propagating
part 361 that faces the waveguide 35 is closest to the waveguide 35
and is a corner where electric field is more likely to concentrate.
Accordingly, surface plasmon is most strongly excited on the
propagation edge 360. The excited surface plasmon 60 propagates
mainly along the propagation edge 360 in the direction indicated by
arrow 61.
[0081] Since surface plasmon 60 propagates along the propagation
edge 360 in the direction indicated by arrow 61, the surface
plasmon 60, that is, an electric field, concentrate at the vertex
NFP of the NF-light generating end surface 36a which reaches the
head end surface 2210 and to which the propagation edge 360
extends. As a result, NF-light 62 is generated from the vertex NFP.
The NF-light 62 is emitted toward the magnetic recording layer of
the magnetic disk 10, reaches the surface of the magnetic disk 10,
and heats a portion in the magnetic recording layer of the magnetic
disk 10. In consequence, anisotropic magnetic field (coercivity) in
the portion is reduced to a value that allows data to be written.
Immediately after that, write field 63 generated from the vertex
WFP of the end surface 3400e of the main magnetic pole 3400 is
applied to the portion to write data. In this way, good
thermally-assisted magnetic recording can be performed.
[0082] Here, a situation will be considered in which excited
surface plasmon partially propagates toward the main magnetic pole
3400 as an electromagnetic field (light) 600. The electromagnetic
field 600 attempts to enter the light penetration suppressing part
362 from the plasmon propagating part 361. However, the light
penetration suppressing part 362 is made of a material that has an
extinction coefficient k.sub.362 greater than the extinction
coefficient k.sub.361 of the material of the plasmon propagating
part 361 as described above. Therefore, the electromagnetic field
600 can hardly enter the light penetration suppressing part 362 due
to a higher skin effect of the light penetration suppressing part
362. Accordingly, there can be avoided significant reduction in
light use efficiency of the optical system generating NF-light due
to partial absorption of surface plasmon propagating along the
propagation edge 360 into the main magnetic pole 3400 made of a
magnetic metal.
[0083] Here, the extinction coefficient k in general is the
imaginary part of a complex index of refraction. In a theoretical
formula of the electromagnetic field, the skin depth .delta. is
proportional to the -1/2nd power of the extinction coefficient
k:
.delta.=1/.omega.(.mu..di-elect cons..sub.0nk).sup.-1/2 (1)
Equation (1) can be derived as follows. An electromagnetic field
with an angular frequency .omega. that propagates in a medium
having an electrical conductivity a and a magnetic permeability
.mu. in a z direction is obtained by solving Maxwell's equations as
follows. When .omega. of the electric field component Eexp
(i.gamma.z-i.omega.t) of the electromagnetic field is well smaller
than .sigma./.di-elect cons. (.omega.<<.sigma./.di-elect
cons.), the real part .gamma..sub.1 and the imaginary part
.gamma..sub.2 of the .gamma. are both:
.gamma..sub.1=.gamma..sub.2=(.sigma..mu..omega./2).sup.-1/2 (2)
It is known that generally the electrical conductivity .sigma. and
the permittivity .di-elect cons. are in the relationship
.sigma.=.omega..di-elect cons..sub.0.di-elect cons..sub.img, where
.di-elect cons..sub.img is the imaginary part of the permittivity
E, which can be expressed as .di-elect cons..sub.img=2nk by the
real part n and the imaginary part (extinction coefficient) k of
the complex index of refraction. The relationships are substituted
into Equation (2), and skin depth .delta. is defined as a
penetration distance z over which the amplitude of the electric
field component Eexp (i.gamma.z-i.omega.t) is 1/e (an increase by a
factor of approximately 0.37) to obtain Equation (1).
[0084] Therefore, if the plasmon propagating part 361 is made of Au
(with an extinction coefficient k=4.9) and the light penetration
suppressing part 362 is made of Al (with an extinction coefficient
k=8.1) for light with a wavelength of 800 nm
(.omega.=3.8.times.10.sup.14 Hz), the condition
.omega.<<.sigma./.di-elect cons. is adequately satisfied
because the electrical conductivity .sigma. of Al is
9.12.times.10.sup.5 .OMEGA..sup.-1m.sup.-1 and the permittivity
.di-elect cons. of Al is on the same order as the permittivity
.di-elect cons..sub.0 in a vacuum (8.85.times.10.sup.-12 Fm.sup.-1)
as in typical metal. Consequently, the electromagnetic field
(light) that attempts to travel into the light penetration
suppressing part 362 from the plasmon propagating part 361 enters
an environment in which the skin depth 8 decreases to approximately
78% as will be apparent from Equation (1), and quickly attenuates.
As a result, the electromagnetic field can hardly enter the light
penetration suppressing part 362.
[0085] In contrast to the above-described case of generating
NF-light utilizing a surface plasmon mode, in a conventional case
in which a NF-light generator provided on the end surface of a head
is directly irradiated with the laser light propagating through a
waveguide, most of the irradiating laser light has been converted
into thermal energy within the NF-light generator. In this case,
the size of the NF-light generator has been set smaller than the
wavelength of the laser light, and its volume is very small.
Therefore, the NF-light generator has been brought to a very high
temperature, for example, 500.degree. C. (degrees Celsius) due to
the thermal energy. As a result, there has been a problem that the
end of a read head element, which reaches the opposed-to-medium
surface, becomes relatively far apart from the magnetic disk due to
the thermal expansion of the generator, which makes it difficult to
properly read servo signals during recording operations. Further,
there has been another problem that the light use efficiency is
degraded because thermal fluctuation of free electrons increases in
the NF-light generator.
[0086] On the contrary, in the thermally-assisted magnetic
recording according to the present invention, a surface plasmon
mode is used, and NF-light 62 is generated by propagating surface
plasmon 60 toward the head end surface 2210. This brings the
temperature at the NF-light generating end surface 36a to, for
example, about 100.degree. C. during the emission of NF-light, the
temperature being drastically reduced compared to the conventional.
Thus, this reduction of temperature allows the protrusion of the
NF-light generating end surface 36a toward the magnetic disk 10 to
be suppressed; thereby favorable thermally-assisted magnetic
recording can be achieved. The induction of a surface plasmon mode
is disclosed in, for example, Michael Hochberg, Tom Baehr-Jones,
Chris Walker & Axel Scherer, "Integrated Plasmon and dielectric
waveguides", OPTICS EXPRESS Vol. 12, No. 22, pp 5481-5486 (2004),
U.S. Pat. No. 7,330,404 B2, and U.S. Pat. No. 7,454,095 B2.
[0087] FIG. 7a1 to 7c show schematic views illustrating different
embodiments of an optical system that generates NF-light and a main
magnetic pole according to the present invention. FIGS. 7a1 and 7b1
are plan views illustrating arrangements of an element end surface
on the head end surface 2210. FIGS. 7a2 and 7b2 are cross-sectional
views taken by ZX-plane. FIG. 7c is a perspective view of a plasmon
generator 78 and a main magnetic pole 79 depicted as being
separated from each other.
[0088] Referring to FIGS. 7a1 and 7a2, a protrusion 75a of the main
magnetic pole 75 is embedded in a groove formed in a plasmon
generator 74. The main magnetic pole 75 is in contact with the
plasmon generator 74 in such a manner that the main magnetic pole
75 is in surface-contact with a light penetration suppressing part
742 which forms inner walls of the groove. That is, the main
magnetic pole 75 is separated from a plasmon propagating part 741
with the light penetration suppressing part 742 sandwiched
therebetween. The plasmon generator 74 tapers down toward the head
end surface 2210 in Z-axis direction such a manner that a
propagation edge 740 slants upward.
[0089] Referring to FIGS. 7b1 and 7b2, a protrusion 77a of a main
magnetic pole 77 is embedded in a groove formed in a plasmon
generator 76. The main magnetic pole 77 is in contact with the
plasmon generator 76 in such a manner that the main magnetic pole
77 is in surface-contact with a light penetration suppressing part
762 that forms the inner walls of the groove. That is, the main
magnetic pole 77 is separated from a plasmon propagation part 761
with the light penetration suppressing part 762 sandwiched
therebetween. The plasmon generator 76 tapers toward the head end
surface 2210 in Z-axis direction in such a manner that the side
opposite to a propagation edge 760 slants downward. Accordingly, a
magnetic pole edge 77b of the protrusion 77a of the main magnetic
pole 77 is slanted downward toward the head end surface 2210.
[0090] In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 7a1 and 7a2 and
FIGS. 7b1 and 7b2, the provision of the light penetration
suppressing part prevents significant reduction in the light use
efficiency due to partial absorption of surface plasmon propagating
along the propagation edge into the main magnetic pole.
Furthermore, since the propagation edge or the magnetic pole edge
is slanted so that the plasmon generator is sufficiently thinned at
the head end surface 2210, the distance D.sub.MW between the part
that is not embedded in the groove of the main magnetic pole and a
waveguide 35 can be increased while the write field generating
point WFP and the NF-light generating point NFP are placed
sufficiently close to each other. This configuration avoids
absorption of waveguide light into the main magnetic pole and
therefore reduction in the amount of light converted to NF-light,
while sufficiently increasing the magnetic field gradient of write
field in a position on a magnetic recording medium that is
irradiated with NF-light. Thus, good thermally-assisted magnetic
recording with high recording density can be achieved.
[0091] Referring to FIG. 7c, the plasmon generator 78 includes a
plasmon propagating part 781 and a light penetration suppressing
part 782 that are overlapped to each other, and has the shape of a
tray having a width in the track width direction (Y-axis direction)
that tapers toward the head end surface 2210. A protrusion 79a of
the main magnetic pole 79 is tightly fitted into the tray-shaped
portion of the plasmon generator 78 without clearance. Accordingly,
the main magnetic pole 79 is in contact with the plasmon generator
78 in such a manner that the main magnetic pole 79 is in
surface-contact with the light penetration suppressing part 782
that forms the inner walls of the tray of the plasmon generator 78.
In other words, the main magnetic pole 79 is separated from the
plasmon propagating part 781 with the light penetration suppressing
part 782 sandwiched therebetween.
[0092] The plasmon generator 78 further includes a propagation
surface 780s and a propagation edge 780 on the side facing the
waveguide. The propagation edge 780 is coupled to an end of the
tapering propagation surface 780s and extends to the head end
surface 2210. Excited surface plasmon 70 propagate on the
propagation surface 780s toward the head end surface 2210, are
concentrated on the propagation edge 780, and propagate along the
propagation edge 780 to the NF-light generating point NFP. As a
result, the electric field intensity of the surface plasmon that
reaches the point NFP increases and near-filed light with a higher
light density is emitted from the point NFP. Furthermore, as has
been described above, the provision of the light penetration
suppressing part 782 can avoid significant reduction in the light
use efficiency due to partial absorption of surface plasmon 70
propagating along the propagation surface 780s and the propagation
edge 780 into the main magnetic pole 79.
Practical Examples
[0093] Practical examples will be described below in which
generation of NF-light in a NF-light generating optical system in a
thermally-assisted magnetic recording head according to the present
invention was analyzed in simulation.
[0094] The analytical simulation experiment was conducted by a
three-dimensional Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) method,
which is an electromagnetic field analysis technique. FIG. 8 shows
a schematic diagram illustrating a system on which the analytical
simulation experiment was conducted as the practical examples. As
illustrated in FIG. 8, laser light incident on the waveguide 90 was
a Gaussian beam with a wavelength .lamda..sub.L of 800 nm and
transverse magnetic (TM) polarization (in which the electric field
of the laser light oscillates in the direction perpendicular to the
surface of the layers of the waveguide 90, namely in Z-axis
direction). The intensity I.sub.IN of the laser light was 1.0
(V/m).sup.2.
[0095] The waveguide 90 had a width W.sub.WG of 0.5 .mu.m and a
thickness T.sub.WG of 0.4 .mu.m and was made of TaO.sub.x (with a
refractive index n.sub.WG=2.15). A plasmon generator 91 had a
height T.sub.NF of 200 nm and had a two-layered structure made up
of a plasmon propagating part 911 and a light penetration
suppressing part 912. The plasmon propagating part 911 was made of
Au. The real part of the complex index of refraction of the Au was
0.22 and the imaginary part (extinction coefficient k) was 4.9. On
the other hand, the light penetration suppressing part 912 was made
of Al. The real part of the complex index of refraction of the Al
was 2.7 and the imaginary part (extinction coefficient k) was 8.1.
The vertex angle .theta..sub.NF at the near-filed light generating
point NFP on the head end surface 2210 of the plasmon generator 91
was 45 degrees (.degree.). The radius of curvature of the
propagation edge 910 was 10 nm. The distance T.sub.BF between the
near-filed light generating point NFP (the propagation edge 910)
and the waveguide 90 was 35 nm. The main magnetic pole 92 was made
of FeCo. The real part of the complex index of refraction of the
FeCo was 3.08 and the imaginary part was 3.9.
[0096] The distance D.sub.WN between the NF-light generating point
NFP of the plasmon generator 91 and the write field generating
point WFP of the main magnetic pole 92 was 35 nm. The distance
D.sub.WN was equivalent to the thickness of the plasmon generator
91 in Z-axis direction and was equal to (thickness t.sub.911 of
plasmon propagating part 911)+(thickness t.sub.912 of light
penetration suppressing part 912): D.sub.WN=t.sub.911+t.sub.912. In
the analytical simulation experiment, the distance D.sub.WN was
maintained at a constant value (35 nm) while the thickness
t.sub.912 of the light penetration suppressing part 912 was varied
among 0 nm, 5 nm, 10 nm, 15 nm, 20 nm, and 25 nm. Here, the case
where t.sub.912=0 represents a comparative example in which the
light penetration suppressing part 912 was absent. Simulation was
also conducted for a practical example where the distance D.sub.WN
was 30 nm and the thickness t.sub.912 of the light penetration
suppressing part 912 was 5 nm.
[0097] A protective layer 93 which covers the waveguide 90, the
plasmon generator 91 and the main magnetic pole 92 and includes a
buffer portion was made of Al.sub.2O.sub.3 (alumina with a
refractive index n.sub.BF=1.65). The length H.sub.NF (in X-axis
direction) of the plasmon generator 91 was 1.3 .mu.m, which was the
same as the length of the main magnetic pole 92.
[0098] Under the experimental conditions described above, the
relationship between the thickness t.sub.912 of the light
penetration suppressing part 912 and the light density max|E|.sup.2
of NF-light generated at the NF-light generating point NFP of the
plasmon generator 91 was measured with the simulation. Here, the
light density max|E|.sup.2 is the maximum square of absolute value
of an electric field component E in a spot of NF-light that was
emitted from the NF-light generating point NFP and reached a
magnetic recording medium at a distance of 6 nm from the vertex NFP
in -X direction.
[0099] Table 1 lists the measurements of the light density
max|E|.sup.2 in the simulation where the thickness t.sub.912 of the
light penetration suppressing part 912 was varied. FIG. 9 shows a
graph of measurements in the simulation obtained at a distance
D.sub.WN of 35 nm among the measurements listed in Table 1. The
case where the thickness t.sub.912 of the light penetration
suppressing part 912 is 0 in Table 1 and FIG. 9 represents the
comparative example in which the light penetration suppressing part
912 was absent (The entire plasmon generator 91 is made of Au.) to
be compared with the present practical examples.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Distance Thickness Thickness Light density
D.sub.WN (nm) t.sub.911 (nm) t.sub.912 (nm) max|E|.sup.2
((V/m).sup.2) 35 35 0 0.78 35 30 5 0.84 35 25 10 0.85 35 20 15 0.84
35 15 20 0.81 35 10 25 0.78 30 25 5 0.78
[0100] Referring to Table 1 and FIG. 9, when the distance D.sub.WN
between the NF-light generating point NFP and the write field
generating point WFP, that is, (thickness t.sub.911 of plasmon
propagating part 911)+(thickness t.sub.912 of light penetration
suppressing part 912), is 35 nm, the light density max|E|.sup.2 of
NF-light generated exhibits a broad peak in the range of
thicknesses t.sub.912 from 0 to 25 nm and takes on a maximum value
of 0.85 (V/m).sup.2 at thickness t.sub.912=10 nm. The maximum light
density represents a gain of approximately 9% over the comparative
example where thickness t.sub.912=0. In the practical example in
which the light density takes on the maximum value, the thickness
of the light penetration suppressing part 912 (thickness
t.sub.912=10 nm) is sufficient to suppress absorption of the
electric field (light) propagating from the plasmon propagating
part 911 to the main magnetic pole 92 under the condition that the
plasmon propagating part 911 (thickness t.sub.911=25 nm) has a
sufficient volume to provide a sufficiently high light density
max|E|.sup.2.
[0101] It can be seen from FIG. 9 that, when the thickness
t.sub.912 of the light penetration suppressing part 912 is finite
and less than or equal to 24.0 nm, light densities max|E|.sup.2
higher than or equal to the light density max|E|.sup.2 in the
comparative example where the thickness t.sub.912=0 can be
obtained. Experiments have shown that the light penetration
suppressing part 912 needs to have a film thickness of at least 1
nm in order to be formed as a continuous film and to reliably
suppress penetration of the electromagnetic field. Therefore, it
will be understood that the thickness t.sub.912 of the light
penetration suppressing part 912 is preferably 1 nm or more and
preferably 24 nm or less. It will also be understood that the
thickness t.sub.912 is more preferably 5 nm or more and is more
preferably 20 nm or less, because a light density max |E|.sup.2
that exceeds the light density in the comparative example can be
reliably achieved in that range. The light penetration suppressing
part 912 that has a thickness in these ranges effectively
suppresses absorption of the electric field (light) propagating
through the plasmon propagating part 911 into the main magnetic
pole 92.
[0102] It will also be understood from the upper limits of the
preferable ranges of the thickness t.sub.912 that the thickness
t.sub.911 of the plasmon propagating part 911 is preferably at
least 11 nm, more preferably at least 15 nm in the presence of the
light penetration suppressing part 912.
[0103] It is known that the distance D.sub.WN (=thickness
t.sub.911+thickness t.sub.912) between the NF-light generating
point NFP and the write field generating point WFP is preferably 15
nm or more and preferably 100 nm or less, in order to provide a
sufficiently large gradient of write field in a position on the
magnetic recording layer of the magnetic disk 10 that is irradiated
with NF-light to enable thermally-assisted magnetic recording with
high recording density. Therefore, the thickness t.sub.911
(=distance D.sub.WN-thickness t.sub.912) of the plasmon propagating
part 911 is preferably 11 nm or more and preferably 99 nm or less,
and more preferably in the range of 15 nm and 95 nm, inclusive.
[0104] The practical example in Table 1 in which the distance
D.sub.WN (=thickness t.sub.911+thickness t.sub.912) is 30 nm, the
thickness t.sub.911 of the plasmon propagating part 911 is 25 nm
and the thickness t.sub.912 of the light penetration suppressing
part 912 is 5 nm is compared with the comparative example where the
thickness t.sub.912=0 (distance D.sub.WN=35 nm). In the practical
example, the light density max|E|.sup.2 (0.78) is exactly as high
as that in the comparative example even through the distance
D.sub.WN is 30 nm and the thickness of the plasmon generator 91
(distance D.sub.WN) is 5 nm smaller than that in the comparative
example. Thus, the use of the light penetration suppressing part
912 enables a thinner plasmon propagating part 911 to be used to
achieve a smaller distance D.sub.WN while keeping the light density
max|E|.sup.2 high. This can contribute to higher recording
densities in thermally-assisted magnetic recording.
[0105] Thus, according to the present invention, a plasmon
generator including a light penetration suppressing part is used
and a magnetic pole is placed in contact with the plasmon generator
in such a manner that the magnetic pole is in surface-contact with
the light penetration suppressing part, thereby avoiding
significant reduction in the light use efficiency of an optical
system generating NF-light due to partial absorption of
electromagnetic field (light) propagating along the plasmon
generator into the magnetic pole. Furthermore, according to the
present invention, the write field generating point WFP of the
magnetic pole and the NF-light generating point NFP of the plasmon
generator can be located close to each other and NF-light with a
sufficiently high light density can be applied to a magnetic
recording medium. As a result, thermally-assisted magnetic
recording with a higher recording density can be achieved.
[0106] All the foregoing embodiments are by way of example of the
present invention only and not intended to be limiting, and many
widely different alternations and modifications of the present
invention may be constructed without departing from the spirit and
scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention
is limited only as defined in the following claims and equivalents
thereto.
* * * * *