U.S. patent application number 14/170462 was filed with the patent office on 2015-08-06 for near field transducer having notch diffusion barrier.
This patent application is currently assigned to HGST NETHERLANDS B.V.. The applicant listed for this patent is HGST NETHERLANDS B.V.. Invention is credited to Hamid Balamane, Joseph A. Bonetti, Jordan A. Katine, Vijay P.S. Rawat, Neil L. Robertson, Erhard Schreck, Matteo Staffaroni, Barry C. Stipe.
Application Number | 20150221324 14/170462 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53719008 |
Filed Date | 2015-08-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150221324 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Balamane; Hamid ; et
al. |
August 6, 2015 |
NEAR FIELD TRANSDUCER HAVING NOTCH DIFFUSION BARRIER
Abstract
An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a near field
transducer comprising a conductive metal film having a main body, a
notch extending from the main body, and a notch diffusion barrier
layer interposed between the notch and the main body. An apparatus
according to another embodiment includes a write pole, and a near
field transducer adjacent the write pole. The near field transducer
includes a conductive metal film having a main body, a notch
extending from the main body, and a notch diffusion barrier layer
interposed between the notch and the main body. The notch diffusion
barrier layer includes a metal selected from a group consisting of
Rh, W, Mo, Ru, Ir, Co, Ni, Pt, B, and alloys thereof. Additional
systems and methods are also presented.
Inventors: |
Balamane; Hamid; (Portola
Valley, CA) ; Bonetti; Joseph A.; (San Jose, CA)
; Katine; Jordan A.; (Mountain View, CA) ; Rawat;
Vijay P.S.; (San Jose, CA) ; Robertson; Neil L.;
(Palo Alto, CA) ; Schreck; Erhard; (San Jose,
CA) ; Staffaroni; Matteo; (Pleasanton, CA) ;
Stipe; Barry C.; (San Jose, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
HGST NETHERLANDS B.V. |
Amsterdam |
|
NL |
|
|
Assignee: |
HGST NETHERLANDS B.V.
Amsterdam
NL
|
Family ID: |
53719008 |
Appl. No.: |
14/170462 |
Filed: |
January 31, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
369/13.33 ;
204/192.11; 204/192.15; 205/261 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G11B 5/3106 20130101;
G11B 5/314 20130101; G11B 5/40 20130101; G11B 5/3163 20130101; G11B
13/08 20130101; G11B 2005/0021 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G11B 5/31 20060101
G11B005/31 |
Claims
1. An apparatus, comprising: a write pole; and a near field
transducer comprising a conductive metal film having a main body, a
notch extending from the main body, and a notch diffusion barrier
layer interposed between the notch and the main body, wherein the
notch diffusion barrier layer, as formed, includes alloys of gold
with at least one of Rh, W, Mo, Ru, Ir, Co, Ni, Pt, B.
2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, comprising an aperture
layer above the notch, notch diffusion barrier layer and main body;
and a second diffusion barrier layer between the aperture and the
write pole.
3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the conductive
metal film is selected from a group consisting of gold, a gold
alloy, silver, and a silver alloy.
4. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein a width of the
aperture layer is greater than a width of the write pole, wherein
the second diffusion barrier layer extends along the entirety of a
bottom edge of the write pole and only a portion of an upper edge
of the aperture layer.
5. (canceled)
6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein a deposition
thickness of the notch diffusion barrier layer is between about 5
angstroms and about 50 angstroms.
7. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein sidewalls of the
notch diffusion barrier layer taper together therealong as they
approach the notch.
8. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein a width of the
notch diffusion barrier layer in a cross track direction is between
about 20 nm and about 100 nm.
9. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein a total deposition
thickness of the notch diffusion barrier layer and the notch is
between about 30 nm and about 100 nm.
10. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a
magnetic medium; a drive mechanism for passing the magnetic medium
over the near field transducer; a writer adjacent the near field
transducer; and a controller electrically coupled to the writer for
controlling operation of the writer.
11. An apparatus, comprising: a write pole; a near field transducer
adjacent the write pole, the near field transducer comprising a
conductive metal film having a main body, a notch extending from
the main body, and a notch diffusion barrier layer interposed
between the notch and the main body; an aperture layer above the
notch, notch diffusion barrier layer and main body; and a second
diffusion barrier layer between the aperture and the write pole,
wherein the notch diffusion barrier layer includes a metal selected
from a group consisting of Rh, W, Mo, Ru, Ir, Co, Ni, Pt, B, and
alloys thereof.
12. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the second
diffusion barrier layer extends along a bottom edge of the write
pole and along lateral side edges of the write pole.
13. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the notch
diffusion barrier layer, as formed, includes alloys of gold with
the at least one of Rh, W, Mo, Ru, Ir, Co, Ni, Pt, B.
14. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the second
diffusion barrier layer extends along an upper edge of the aperture
layer, along lateral side edges of the aperture layer, and along
the main body in a direction away from the aperture layer.
15. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein a width of the
aperture layer is greater than a width of the write pole, wherein
the second diffusion barrier layer extends along an entirety of a
bottom edge of the write pole and only a portion of an upper edge
of the aperture layer.
16. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein sidewalls of the
notch diffusion barrier layer taper together therealong as they
approach the notch.
17. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein a width of the
notch diffusion barrier layer in a cross track direction is between
about 20 nm and about 100 nm.
18. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein a total
deposition thickness of the notch diffusion barrier layer and the
notch is between about 30 nm and about 100 nm.
19. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, further comprising a
magnetic medium; a drive mechanism for passing the magnetic medium
over the near field transducer; a writer adjacent the near field
transducer; and a controller electrically coupled to the writer for
controlling operation of the writer.
20. (canceled)
21. An apparatus, comprising: a write pole; a near field transducer
adjacent the write pole, the near field transducer comprising a
conductive metal film having a monolithic main body formed above a
cladding layer, a monolithic notch extending from the main body,
and a notch diffusion barrier layer interposed between the notch
and the main body; an aperture layer above the notch, notch
diffusion barrier layer and main body; and a second diffusion
barrier layer between the aperture and the write pole, wherein the
notch diffusion barrier layer, as formed, includes a metal selected
from a group consisting of Rh, W, Mo, Ru, Ir, Co, Ni, Pt, B, and
alloys thereof, wherein sidewalls of the notch diffusion barrier
layer taper together therealong as they approach the notch, wherein
the notch has a generally rectangular shape, wherein the second
diffusion barrier layer extends along an upper edge of the aperture
layer, along lateral side edges of the aperture layer, and along
the main body in a direction away from the aperture layer, wherein
portions of the second diffusion barrier layer extending along the
main body in a direction away from the aperture layer are
substantially coplanar with the notch diffusion barrier.
22. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the second
diffusion barrier layer extends along an upper edge of the aperture
layer, along lateral side edges of the aperture layer, and along
the main body in a direction away from the aperture layer.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to data storage systems, and
more particularly, this invention relates to near field transducers
having a diffusion barrier and methods for making the same.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The heart of a computer is a magnetic disk drive which
typically includes a rotating magnetic disk, a slider that has read
and write heads, a suspension arm above the rotating disk and an
actuator arm that swings the suspension arm to place the read
and/or write heads over selected circular tracks on the rotating
disk. The suspension arm biases the slider into contact with the
surface of the disk when the disk is not rotating (in some disk
drives, there is a load/unload ramp so contact with the disk does
not occur); but, when the disk rotates, air is swirled by the
rotating disk adjacent an air bearing surface (ABS) of the slider
causing the slider to ride on an air bearing a slight distance from
the surface of the rotating disk. When the slider rides on the air
bearing the write and read heads are employed for writing magnetic
impressions to and reading magnetic signal fields from the rotating
disk. The read and write heads are connected to processing
circuitry that operates according to a computer program to
implement the writing and reading functions.
[0003] The ongoing quest for higher storage bit densities in
magnetic media used in disk drives have reduced the size (volume)
of data cells to the point where the cell dimensions are limited by
the grain size of the magnetic material. Although grain size can be
reduced further, there is concern that data stored within the cells
is no longer thermally stable, as random thermal fluctuations at
ambient temperatures are sufficient to erase data. This state is
described as the superparamagnetic limit, which determines the
maximum theoretical storage density for a given magnetic media.
This limit may be raised by increasing the coercivity of the
magnetic media or lowering the temperature. Lowering the
temperature is not a practical option when designing hard disk
drives for commercial and consumer use. Raising the coercivity is a
practical solution, but requires write heads employing higher
magnetic moment materials which will make data recording more
challenging.
[0004] One additional solution has been proposed, which employs
heat to lower the effective coercivity of a localized region on the
magnetic media surface and writes data within this heated region.
The data state becomes "fixed" upon cooling the media to ambient
temperatures. This technique is broadly referred to interchangeably
as "heat assisted magnetic recording" (HAMR) or "thermally assisted
(magnetic) recording", TAR or TAMR. HAMR can be applied to both
longitudinal and perpendicular recording systems, although the
highest density state of the art storage systems are more likely to
be perpendicular recording systems. Heating of the media surface
has been accomplished by a number of techniques such as focused
laser beams or near field optical sources.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 6,999,384 to Stancil et al., which is herein
incorporated by reference, discloses near field heating of a
magnetic medium.
[0006] However, materials used to form components of current HAMR
write heads are unable to withstand the high temperatures
encountered by the recording head during write operations. What is
needed is a way to further improve thermal stability of HAMR write
heads.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a near
field transducer comprising a conductive metal film having a main
body, a notch extending from the main body, and a notch diffusion
barrier layer interposed between the notch and the main body.
[0008] An apparatus according to another embodiment includes a
write pole, and a near field transducer adjacent the write pole.
The near field transducer includes a conductive metal film having a
main body, a notch extending from the main body, and a notch
diffusion barrier layer interposed between the notch and the main
body. The notch diffusion barrier layer includes a metal selected
from a group consisting of Rh, W, Mo, Ru, Ir, Co, Ni, Pt, B, and
alloys thereof.
[0009] A method according to one embodiment includes forming a
magnetic pole, forming a body of a near field transducer structure
above the magnetic pole, forming a notch diffusion barrier layer
above the body, forming a notch layer above the notch diffusion
barrier layer, and defining a notch from the notch layer.
[0010] Any of these embodiments may be implemented in a magnetic
data storage system such as a disk drive system, which may include
a magnetic head, a drive mechanism for passing a magnetic medium
(e.g., hard disk) over the magnetic head, and a controller
electrically coupled to the magnetic head.
[0011] Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent from the following detailed description, which,
when taken in conjunction with the drawings, illustrate by way of
example the principles of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] For a fuller understanding of the nature and advantages of
the present invention, as well as the preferred mode of use,
reference should be made to the following detailed description read
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
[0013] FIG. 1 is a simplified drawing of a magnetic recording disk
drive system.
[0014] FIG. 2A is a schematic representation in section of a
recording medium utilizing a longitudinal recording format.
[0015] FIG. 2B is a schematic representation of a conventional
magnetic recording head and recording medium combination for
longitudinal recording as in FIG. 2A.
[0016] FIG. 2C is a magnetic recording medium utilizing a
perpendicular recording format.
[0017] FIG. 2D is a schematic representation of a recording head
and recording medium combination for perpendicular recording on one
side.
[0018] FIG. 2E is a schematic representation of a recording
apparatus adapted for perpendicular recording separately on both
sides of the medium.
[0019] FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of one particular
embodiment of a perpendicular magnetic head with helical coils.
[0020] FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of one particular
embodiment of a piggyback magnetic head with helical coils.
[0021] FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of one particular
embodiment of a perpendicular magnetic head with looped coils.
[0022] FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of one particular
embodiment of a piggyback magnetic head with looped coils.
[0023] FIG. 5 is a partial cross sectional view of a thin film
perpendicular write head according to one embodiment.
[0024] FIGS. 6A-6H are partial side views of process steps for
forming a HAMR write head according to one embodiment.
[0025] FIG. 7A is a partial side views of an apparatus according to
one embodiment.
[0026] FIG. 7B is a partial side views of an apparatus according to
one embodiment.
[0027] FIG. 7C is a partial side views of an apparatus according to
one embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0028] The following description is made for the purpose of
illustrating the general principles of the present invention and is
not meant to limit the inventive concepts claimed herein. Further,
particular features described herein can be used in combination
with other described features in each of the various possible
combinations and permutations.
[0029] Unless otherwise specifically defined herein, all terms are
to be given their broadest possible interpretation including
meanings implied from the specification as well as meanings
understood by those skilled in the art and/or as defined in
dictionaries, treatises, etc.
[0030] It must also be noted that, as used in the specification and
the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an" and "the" include
plural referents unless otherwise specified.
[0031] The following description discloses several preferred
embodiments of disk-based storage systems and/or related systems
and methods, as well as operation and/or component parts
thereof.
[0032] In one general embodiment, an apparatus includes a near
field transducer comprising a conductive metal film having a main
body, a notch extending from the main body, and a notch diffusion
barrier layer interposed between the notch and the main body.
[0033] In another general embodiment, an apparatus includes a write
pole, and a near field transducer adjacent the write pole. The near
field transducer includes a conductive metal film having a main
body, a notch extending from the main body, and a notch diffusion
barrier layer interposed between the notch and the main body. The
notch diffusion barrier layer includes a metal selected from a
group consisting of Rh, W, Mo, Ru, Ir, Co, Ni, Pt, B, and alloys
thereof.
[0034] In yet another general embodiment, a method includes forming
a magnetic pole, forming a body of a near field transducer
structure above the magnetic pole, forming a notch diffusion
barrier layer above the body, forming a notch layer above the notch
diffusion barrier layer, and defining a notch from the notch
layer.
[0035] Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a disk drive 100 in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. As shown
in FIG. 1, at least one rotatable magnetic disk 112 is supported on
a spindle 114 and rotated by a disk drive motor 118. The magnetic
recording on each disk is typically in the form of an annular
pattern of concentric data tracks (not shown) on the disk 112.
[0036] At least one slider 113 is positioned near the disk 112,
each slider 113 supporting one or more magnetic read/write heads
121. As the disk rotates, slider 113 is moved radially in and out
over disk surface 122 so that heads 121 may access different tracks
of the disk where desired data are recorded and/or to be written.
Each slider 113 is attached to an actuator arm 119 by means of a
suspension 115. The suspension 115 provides a slight spring force
which biases slider 113 against the disk surface 122. Each actuator
arm 119 is attached to an actuator 127. The actuator 127 as shown
in FIG. 1 may be a voice coil motor (VCM). The VCM comprises a coil
movable within a fixed magnetic field, the direction and speed of
the coil movements being controlled by the motor current signals
supplied by controller 129.
[0037] During operation of the disk storage system, the rotation of
disk 112 generates an air bearing between slider 113 and disk
surface 122 which exerts an upward force or lift on the slider. The
air bearing thus counter-balances the slight spring force of
suspension 115 and supports slider 113 off and slightly above the
disk surface by a small, substantially constant spacing during
normal operation. Note that in some embodiments, the slider 113 may
slide along the disk surface 122.
[0038] The various components of the disk storage system are
controlled in operation by control signals generated by control
unit 129, such as access control signals and internal clock
signals. Typically, control unit 129 comprises logic control
circuits, storage (e.g., memory), and a microprocessor. The control
unit 129 generates control signals to control various system
operations such as drive motor control signals on line 123 and head
position and seek control signals on line 128. The control signals
on line 128 provide the desired current profiles to optimally move
and position slider 113 to the desired data track on disk 112. Read
and write signals are communicated to and from read/write heads 121
by way of recording channel 125.
[0039] The above description of a typical magnetic disk storage
system, and the accompanying illustration of FIG. 1 is for
representation purposes only. It should be apparent that disk
storage systems may contain a large number of disks and actuators,
and each actuator may support a number of sliders.
[0040] In some embodiments, the disk drive 100 of FIG. 1 may be
implemented for HAMR. Accordingly, the disk drive 100 may include
an apparatus, e.g., see 500 and/or 600 of FIGS. 5 and 6A-6H,
respectively. Thus, the read/write heads 121 of the disk drive 100
may operate in combination with an NFT as described in detail
below.
[0041] With continued reference to the disk drive 100 of FIG. 1, an
interface may also be provided for communication between the disk
drive and a host (integral or external) to send and receive the
data and for controlling the operation of the disk drive and
communicating the status of the disk drive to the host, all as will
be understood by those of skill in the art.
[0042] In a typical head, an inductive write head includes a coil
layer embedded in one or more insulation layers (insulation stack),
the insulation stack being located between first and second pole
piece layers. A gap is formed between the first and second pole
piece layers of the write portion by a gap layer at or near a media
facing side of the head (sometimes referred to as an ABS in a disk
drive). The pole piece layers may be connected at a back gap.
Currents are conducted through the coil layer, which produce
magnetic fields in the pole pieces. The magnetic fields fringe
across the gap at the media facing side for the purpose of writing
bits of magnetic field information in tracks on moving media, such
as in circular tracks on a rotating magnetic disk.
[0043] The second pole piece layer has a pole tip portion which
extends from the media facing side to a flare point and a yoke
portion which extends from the flare point to the back gap. The
flare point is where the second pole piece begins to widen (flare)
to form the yoke. The placement of the flare point directly affects
the magnitude of the magnetic field produced to write information
on the recording medium.
[0044] FIG. 2A illustrates, schematically, a conventional recording
medium such as used with magnetic disc recording systems, such as
that shown in FIG. 1. This medium is utilized for recording
magnetic domains in or parallel to the plane of the medium itself.
The recording medium, a recording disc in this instance, comprises
basically a supporting substrate 200 of a suitable non-magnetic
material such as glass, with an overlying coating 202 of a suitable
and conventional magnetic layer.
[0045] FIG. 2B shows the operative relationship between a
conventional recording head 204, which may preferably be a thin
film head, and a longitudinal recording medium, such as that of
FIG. 2A.
[0046] FIG. 2C illustrates, schematically, a perpendicular
recording head where, the orientation of magnetic domains
substantially perpendicular to the surface of a recording medium as
used with magnetic disc recording systems, such as that shown in
FIG. 1. For such perpendicular recording the medium typically
includes an under layer 212 of a material having a high magnetic
permeability. This under layer 212 is then provided with an
overlying coating 214 of magnetic material preferably having a high
coercivity relative to the under layer 212.
[0047] FIG. 2D illustrates the operative relationship between a
perpendicular head 218 and a recording medium. The recording medium
illustrated in FIG. 2D includes both the high permeability under
layer 212 and the overlying coating 214 of magnetic material
described with respect to FIG. 2C above. However, both of these
layers 212 and 214 are shown applied to a suitable substrate 216.
Typically there is also an additional layer (not shown) called an
"exchange-break" layer or "interlayer" between layers 212 and
214.
[0048] In this structure, the magnetic lines of flux extending
between the poles of the perpendicular head 218 loop into and out
of the overlying coating 214 of the recording medium with the high
permeability under layer 212 of the recording medium causing the
lines of flux to pass through the overlying coating 214 in a
direction generally perpendicular to the surface of the medium to
record information in the overlying coating 214 of magnetic
material preferably having a high coercivity relative to the under
layer 212 in the form of magnetic domains having their axes of
magnetization substantially perpendicular to the surface of the
medium. The flux is channeled by the soft underlying coating 212
back to the return pole of the head 218.
[0049] FIG. 2E illustrates a similar structure in which the
substrate 216 carries the layers 212 and 214 on each of its two
opposed sides, with suitable recording heads 218 positioned
adjacent the outer surface of the magnetic coating 214 on each side
of the medium, allowing for recording on each side of the
medium.
[0050] FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of a perpendicular
magnetic head. In FIG. 3A, helical coils 310 and 312 are used to
create magnetic flux in the stitch pole 308, which then delivers
that flux to the main pole 306. Coils 310 indicate coils extending
out from the page, while coils 312 indicate coils extending into
the page. Stitch pole 308 may be recessed from the media facing
side 318. Insulation 316 surrounds the coils and may provide
support for some of the elements. The direction of the media
travel, as indicated by the arrow to the right of the structure,
moves the media past the lower return pole 314 first, then past the
stitch pole 308, main pole 306, trailing shield 304 which may be
connected to the wrap around shield (not shown), and finally past
the upper return pole 302. Each of these components may have a
portion in contact with the media facing side 318. The media facing
side 318 is indicated across the right side of the structure.
[0051] Perpendicular writing is achieved by forcing flux through
the stitch pole 308 into the main pole 306 and then to the surface
of the disk positioned towards the media facing side 318.
[0052] FIG. 3B illustrates a piggyback magnetic head having similar
features to the head of FIG. 3A. Two shields 304, 314 flank the
stitch pole 308 and main pole 306. Also sensor shields 322, 324 are
shown. The sensor 326 is typically positioned between the sensor
shields 322, 324.
[0053] FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram of one embodiment which uses
looped coils 410, sometimes referred to as a pancake configuration,
to provide flux to the stitch pole 408. The stitch pole then
provides this flux to the main pole 406. In this orientation, the
lower return pole is optional. Insulation 416 surrounds the coils
410, and may provide support for the stitch pole 408 and main pole
406. The stitch pole may be recessed from the media facing side
418. The direction of the media travel, as indicated by the arrow
to the right of the structure, moves the media past the stitch pole
408, main pole 406, trailing shield 404 which may be connected to
the wrap around shield (not shown), and finally past the upper
return pole 402 (all of which may or may not have a portion in
contact with the media facing side 418). The media facing side 418
is indicated across the right side of the structure. The trailing
shield 404 may be in contact with the main pole 406 in some
embodiments.
[0054] FIG. 4B illustrates another type of piggyback magnetic head
having similar features to the head of FIG. 4A including looped
coils 410, which loops around to form looped coils 412. Also,
sensor shields 422, 424 are shown, with the upper sensor shield 422
spaced from the writer by a nonmagnetic layer 414. The sensor 426
is typically positioned between the sensor shields 422, 424.
[0055] In FIGS. 3B and 4B, an optional heater 328, 428,
respectively, is shown away from the media facing side of the
magnetic head. A heater 328, 428 may also be included in the
magnetic heads shown in FIGS. 3A and 4A. The position of this
heater may vary based on design parameters such as where the
protrusion is desired, coefficients of thermal expansion of the
surrounding layers, etc.
[0056] HAMR, or equivalently TAR, is a method of recording
information onto a magnetic recording medium, such as a disk, tape,
etc. One general motivation for this invention relates to the
design of a recessed dielectric waveguide and integration with a
near-field optical transducer for HAMR. The waveguide core may be
optimally recessed by a distance from the transducer and this space
may be filled with low index dielectric material leading to
significant enhancement of the optical efficiency. In one preferred
embodiment, the low index dielectric material in the recessed space
may be deposited after fabrication of the near-field transducer
using an anisotropic deposition followed by deposition of the high
index core material.
[0057] According to some embodiments, for HAMR to be realized, it
may be beneficial to confine heat to about a single data track (an
exemplary data track may be approximately 40 nm wide or smaller)
with high efficiency. Candidate near-field optical sources
typically use a low-loss metal (Au, Ag, Al, Cu, etc.) shaped in
such a way as to concentrate surface charge motion at a tip apex
located at the slider media facing side when light is incident.
Oscillating tip charge may create an intense near-field pattern,
heating the disk. Sometimes, the metal structure can create
resonant charge motion (surface plasmons) to further increase
intensity and disk heating. For example, when polarized light is
aligned with the corner of a triangular-shaped gold plate, an
intense near field pattern may be created at that corner. Resonant
charge motion may occur by adjusting the triangle size to match a
surface plasmon frequency to the incident light frequency. Another
near-field transducer is the notch slot waveguide from microwave
circuits applied to optical frequencies (also known as the C
aperture). Light polarization may be aligned with the notch and
incident light may concentrate surface charge at the tip of the
notch.
[0058] Previously, a notch waveguide in silver has been optimized
at a wavelength of 516 nm and a metal-to-metal fly-height of 8 nm.
Also, far field measurements obtained for various C aperture sizes
indicate a spectral shift while narrow resonant behavior has been
observed when a pattern of notches is used to excite surface
plasmons around a long slot and enhance far field transmission. The
majority of embodiments described herein relate to using a notch
waveguide of some kind to enhance the writing capabilities in
HAMR.
[0059] U.S. Pat. No. 6,999,384 to Stancil et al., incorporated by
reference above, describes the phenomenon of near field heating of
a magnetic medium in more detail.
[0060] As mentioned above, NFTs used in conventional HAMR heads
have poor reliability and survival time due to excessive heating of
the NFT components during write operations. Particularly, this
heating causes the notch portion of the NFT to deform and/or
diffuse away as a result of the notch portion's material
characteristics, e.g., low melting temperatures. As a result, the
effectiveness of the NFT is diminished, and often rendered useless,
after a short period of time.
[0061] In sharp contrast, various embodiments herein include a
diffusion barrier between the notch and base of the NFT, which
desirably alleviates most of the material and thermal instabilities
seen in conventional structures. Additionally, the diffusion
barrier has a minimal impact on the optical properties of the NFT,
thereby serving as a desirable solution to this conventional, and
heretofore unresolved, problem.
[0062] FIG. 5 depicts a partial cross sectional view of a magnetic
HAMR head 500, in accordance with one embodiment. As an option, the
present head 500 may be implemented in conjunction with features
from any other embodiment listed herein, such as those described
with reference to the other FIGS. Of course, however, such head 500
and others presented herein may be used in various applications
and/or in permutations which may or may not be specifically
described in the illustrative embodiments listed herein. Further,
the head 500 presented herein may be used in any desired
environment.
[0063] It should be noted that the dimensions of the components
illustrated in FIG. 5 may be exaggerated (e.g., larger than would
typically be observed) relative to other components, which are in
no way intended to limit the invention. Moreover, to simplify and
clarify the structures presented, and spacing layers, insulating
layers may be omitted from the subsequent figures and/or
descriptions. Thus, although FIG. 5 illustrates an illustrative
cross sectional view of a magnetic HAMR head 500, additional and/or
alternative layers and combinations of layers may be used in the
structure as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the
relevant art upon reading the present disclosure, including
insulating layers, adhesion layers, etc. In addition, any of the
layers described in relation to head 500 may be comprised of
multiple layers, which may or may not be of the same material.
[0064] Referring now to FIG. 5, the head 500 includes a return pole
502 which is coupled to the main pole 504, a portion of the main
pole 504 being positioned at the media facing side. The return pole
502 may include a conventional magnetic alloy or material.
Exemplary materials for the return pole 502 include Co, Ni, Fe, Cr
etc. and/or combinations thereof. Moreover, the main pole 504 may
include any known suitable material, such as NiFe, CoFe, CoNiFe,
CoFeCr etc.
[0065] The head 500 also includes an optical waveguide 506,
surrounded by cladding layers 508, 510, 512. According to the
present embodiment, the cladding layers 508, 510, 512 are
illustrated as extending to at least the flex side 514; although in
other embodiments, some or all of the cladding layers may not
extend to the flex side 514.
[0066] Moreover, one of the cladding layers 510 forms a recess
between the waveguide 506 and the NFT 523. Further, cladding layer
510 is also directly adjacent a side of the waveguide 506, e.g.,
extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the waveguide 506
along its stripe height. Additionally, another one of the cladding
layers 512 extends below the NFT 523, thereby forming a portion of
the media facing side. Thus, in some embodiments, the waveguide 506
may be positioned above two cladding layers 510, 512, e.g., as
illustrated in FIG. 5.
[0067] In various embodiments, the cladding layers 508, 510, 512
may include any material as would be known to one of ordinary skill
in the relevant art, such as Al.sub.2O.sub.3, SiO.sub.2, etc.
Moreover, the cladding layers 508, 510, 512 may include same,
similar or different materials, depending on the desired
embodiment.
[0068] The waveguide 506 extends to the flex side 514 having a near
field optical source 516, e.g., a laser. However, in other
approaches, the optical waveguide 506 may be spaced from the NFT by
between about 80 nm and about 10 nm, by between about 60 nm and
about 10 nm, by between about 100 nm and about 20 nm, by between
about 100 nm and about 40 nm, etc., depending on the desired
embodiment. It should be noted that, as used herein, the term
"about" with reference to some stated value refers to the stated
value.+-.10% of said value.
[0069] The optical source 516 emits an optical signal, e.g., light,
that is desirably directed along the optical waveguide 506, towards
the NFT. Thus the waveguide 506 is generally used to deliver light
energy to the NFT which creates a small hot-spot on the surface of
the media disk 528, thereby inducing isolated heating of the disk
528 surface. The waveguide 506 preferably includes a material
having a high refractive index (e.g., at least higher than the
cladding layers 508, 510, 512), thereby assisting in keeping the
optical signal, emitted from the optical source 516, within the
waveguide 506. Illustrative materials for the waveguide 506
include, but are not limited to, TaO.sub.x, TiO.sub.x, NbO.sub.x,
ZrO.sub.x, HfOx etc. Other exemplary materials for the waveguide
506 may include Ta.sub.2O.sub.5, and/or TiO.sub.2.
[0070] The cladding layers 508, 510, 512 preferably include a
material having a low refractive index, e.g., so as to keep the
optical signal confined within the sidewalls of the waveguide. In
general, a low refractive index material may include any material
having refractive index below about 1.75, but could be higher or
lower depending on the desired embodiment. In other approaches, the
low refractive index may be lower than the refractive index of the
waveguide 506. Illustrative materials for the cladding layers 508,
510, 512 include refractive oxides such as AlO.sub.x, SiO.sub.x,
etc. or other conventional materials having a desirably low
refractive index.
[0071] As shown, the waveguide 506 may have an approximately
uniform cross section along its length. The thickness of the
waveguide 506 may be nominally between about 200 nm and about 400
nm, but is preferably thicker than the aperture 524.
[0072] However, as well known in the art, the waveguide 506 may
have a number of other possible designs including a planar solid
immersion mirror or planar solid immersion lens which have a
non-uniform core cross section along the waveguide's length. Thus,
according to various approaches, the waveguide 506 may have any
other cross sectional profile as selected by one of ordinary skill
in the relevant art, such as a rectangular, square, triangular,
circular, etc., cross section.
[0073] With continued reference to FIG. 5, the head 500 also
includes write coils 518 positioned in a conventional insulation
layer 520, e.g., alumina. As would be appreciated by one skilled in
the art, the write coils may assist the head 500 perform write
operations by inducing a magnetic field in the return pole 502
which is transferred to the main pole 504 and concentrated in a
magnetic lip 522 which is used to write to a magnetic medium 528
(e.g., a magnetic disk) spaced therefrom. In other words, the
magnetic lip 522 may serve as a write pole. Thus, the magnetic lip
522 is preferably magnetically coupled to the main pole 504, and
the return pole 502. In other embodiments, the main pole 504 may
have a step formed near the lower portion of the main pole 504.
[0074] As illustrated, the NFT includes an aperture 524 (also known
as a C aperture) and a main body 526 of a conductive metal film.
However, the partial cross sectional view of the head 500 in FIG. 5
is not meant to limit the structure of the NFT as described herein.
The process of forming an exemplary NFT structure will be described
in further detail below, with reference to FIGS. 6A-6H.
[0075] The NFT 523 is used to assist in performing write
operations. As described above, an NFT may be used to heat the
magnetic medium, thereby softening the magnetic stability of the
magnetic grains thereof. The energy to heat the magnetic medium may
be supplied to the NFT 523 from the optical source 516 via the
waveguide 506. In preferred embodiments, this allows for the
magnetic field concentrated at the magnetic lip 522 to influence
the magnetic orientation of the magnetic grains on the medium 528,
e.g., to perform a write operation. Therefore, it is desirable that
the NFT is located adjacent the magnetic lip 522, e.g., as
illustrated in FIG. 5.
[0076] According to one embodiment, the magnetic lip 522 may have a
nominal length (as measured from the media facing side in the
stripe height direction) approximately equal to that of the main
body 526, but the lengths may be different, e.g., as determined by
the performance and/or properties of the near field optical source,
NFT and/or magnetic lip. Moreover, according to various other
embodiments, the length of the magnetic lip 522 may vary from about
50 nm to about 500 nm, more preferably between about 50 nm and
about 200 nm, but may be higher or lower depending on the desired
embodiment.
[0077] As alluded to above, FIGS. 6A-6H depict the process steps of
a method for forming an apparatus 600 having an NFT, in accordance
with one embodiment. As an option, the present apparatus 600 may be
implemented in conjunction with features from any other embodiment
listed herein, such as those described with reference to the other
FIGS, particularly FIG. 5. Accordingly, various components of FIGS.
6A-6H have common numbering with those of FIG. 5.
[0078] Of course, however, such apparatus 600 and others presented
herein may be used in various applications and/or in permutations
which may or may not be specifically described in the illustrative
embodiments listed herein. Further, the apparatus 600 presented
herein may be used in any desired environment. Thus FIGS. 6A-6H
(and the other FIGS.) should be deemed to include any and all
possible permutations.
[0079] Looking to FIG. 6A, a magnetic return pole 502, a lower
cladding layer 512, and a main body 526 of a conductive metal film
are deposited, e.g., using ion beam deposition, sputtering, electro
plating, etc. or any other conventional process. An additional
Chemical Mechanical Planarization (CMP) is preferably performed on
the upper surface of the main body 526 of the conductive metal
film, e.g., to smoothen the as-deposited surface of the main body
526.
[0080] The main body 526 of the conductive metal film forms a
portion of a conductive metal film of an NFT structure above the
magnetic return pole 502, e.g., see the NFT of FIG. 5. The
conductive metal film will eventually include a notch extending
from the main body, and a notch diffusion barrier layer interposed
between the two, as will be discussed in detail below, e.g., see
FIG. 6C.
[0081] With continued reference to FIG. 6A, according to one
approach, the deposition thickness of the main body 526 may be
about 150 nm, but could be higher or lower depending on the desired
embodiment.
[0082] Referring to FIG. 6B, a notch diffusion barrier layer 602
and a notch layer 604 are formed above the aforementioned main body
526 of the conductive metal film. As illustrated, the notch
diffusion barrier layer 602 is positioned between the notch layer
604 and the main body 526, thereby separating the two.
[0083] The deposition thickness (t2) of the notch diffusion barrier
layer 602 is preferably between about 5 angstroms (.ANG.) and about
50 .ANG., but could be higher or lower. A thickness of the notch
diffusion barrier layer 602 within the aforementioned range is
preferably preserved, despite any subtractive processes that may be
performed on said layer, as will soon become apparent.
[0084] Looking now to FIG. 6C, a resist 610, e.g., of any type
known in the art, is placed over the notch layer 604. Moreover, a
subtractive process may be performed on the notch diffusion barrier
layer 602 and notch layer 604. According to various approaches, the
subtractive process may include ion milling, but may include other
processes that would be apparent to one skilled in the art upon
reading the present description, e.g., in view of the materials
used in the layers of the apparatus 600.
[0085] The subtractive process thereby preferably defines the
lateral extent of a notch diffusion barrier layer 606 and a notch
608 from the notch diffusion barrier layer 602 and the notch layer
604, respectively. Thus, as described above, the main body 526 and
notch 608 extending from the main body 526 form the conductive
metal film of the NFT created in the process steps illustrated in
FIGS. 6A-6H.
[0086] With continued reference to the apparatus 600 shown in FIG.
6C, the sidewalls of the notch diffusion barrier layer 606 taper
together therealong (e.g., at a nonzero angle) as they approach the
notch 608. This tapered construction results in improved
functionality and definition of the notch. However, in alternate
embodiments, no taper may be present, but rather the notch
diffusion barrier layer 606 may have vertical sidewalls.
[0087] The width w.sub.1 of the notch diffusion barrier layer 606
in a cross track direction 630 may be between about 10 nm and about
120 nm, more preferably between about 20 nm and about 100 nm, but
could be higher or lower depending on the desired embodiment.
Furthermore, a total deposition thickness t.sub.1 of the notch
diffusion barrier layer 606 and the notch 608 may be between about
30 nm and about 100 nm, preferably between about 40 and about 60
nm, ideally about 50 nm, but could be higher or lower.
[0088] With continued reference to FIG. 6C, the notch diffusion
barrier layer 606 is also interposed between the notch 608 and the
main body 526. The inventors have discovered that by placing a
diffusion barrier layer between the notch 608 and the main body
526, the thermal stability of the notch 608 is greatly improved.
This result could not have been predicted without conducting
experimentation, especially for structures having the dimensions
disclosed herein. Without wishing to be bound by any theory, it is
presently believed that the notch diffusion barrier layer 606
prevents the diffusion of notch material 608 into the main body 526
thereby preserving the physical integrity of the notch material and
the functionality of the apparatus 600 as a whole.
[0089] The notch layer 604 and the main body 526 of the conductive
metal film preferably include the same material(s). Illustrative
materials for the conductive metal film, having the notch layer 604
and the main body 526, include, but are not limited to, gold,
silver, copper, etc., and/or alloys thereof. While an alloy
material used to form the conductive metal film improves the
material stability of the resulting NFT, such embodiments also
alter the optical properties of the structure. Thus, in various
embodiments, the material composition of the NFT and/or the
characteristics of the notch diffusion barrier layer 606 (e.g.,
thickness, shape, material, etc.) may be tuned to achieve a desired
overall NFT performance, as will be discussed in more detail
below.
[0090] Although the notch layer 604 preferably includes the same
material(s) as the main body 526, the notch diffusion barrier layer
602 may have a different material composition than the notch layer
604 and/or main body 526. The material(s) used for the notch
diffusion barrier layer 602 preferably include metals that have low
solubility in Au, low miscibility in Au, do not form secondary
phases with Au at high temperatures and have a high melting point
(e.g., greater than about 1200 degrees C.). Illustrative materials
for the notch diffusion barrier layer 602 include, but are not
limited to, metals such as Rh, W, Mo, Ru, Ir, Co, Ni, Pt, B, etc.,
and/or alloys thereof. In other embodiments, the notch diffusion
barrier layer 602 may include alloys of gold in addition to one or
more of the metals, e.g., Rh, W, Mo, Ru, Ir, Co, Ni, Pt, B,
etc.
[0091] Despite the subtractive process performed on the apparatus
600, e.g., as shown in FIG. 6C, the thickness of the diffusion
barrier layer 602 preferably remains within the aforementioned
range for deposition thereof. Thus the deposition thickness t.sub.2
of the notch diffusion barrier layer 606 preferably remains between
about 5 angstroms (.ANG.) and about 50 .ANG., but could be higher
or lower.
[0092] The thickness t.sub.2 of the notch diffusion barrier layer
606 affects the thermal stability of the notch 608 in addition to
the efficiency of the NFT structure. As the thickness t.sub.2 of
the notch diffusion barrier layer 606 increases, the thermal
stability improves while the efficiency of the NFT structure
decreases. Moreover, as the thickness t.sub.2 of the notch
diffusion barrier layer 606 decreases, the efficiency of the NFT
structure improves and the thermal stability decreases. Thus,
depending on the desired embodiment, the thickness t.sub.2 of the
notch diffusion barrier layer 606 may be tuned to achieve the
desired properties for a given embodiment, e.g., in consideration
of materials used, operation temperatures, type of media, distance
of the apparatus from the media, etc.
[0093] Looking now to FIG. 6D, the resist 610 is preferably removed
from the apparatus 600, and an dielectric layer 612 is deposited
over the exposed portions of the notch diffusion barrier layer 606,
notch 608 and main body 526. Illustrative materials for the oxide
layer 612 may include SiO.sub.2, AlO.sub.x, MgF.sub.2, CaF.sub.2,
etc., and/or combinations (composites) thereof.
[0094] To define the upper surface of the oxide layer 612, a CMP
and Reactive-Ion Etching (RIE) combination is preferably performed
on the oxide layer 612. However, in other approaches, supplemental
and/or alternative process steps may be performed on the upper
surface of the oxide layer 612.
[0095] As shown in FIG. 6E, a second resist 614 is lithographically
patterned on top of the oxide layer 612, whereby a subtraction
process may be performed on the apparatus 600. The subtraction
process thereby preferably defines the lateral extent of an
aperture 524 from the oxide layer 612. According to various
approaches, the subtractive process may include any of those
described above with reference to FIG. 6C.
[0096] The lateral extent w.sub.2 of the aperture 524 may be about
300 nm, more preferably between about 250 nm and about 500 nm, but
could be higher or lower. Additionally, the deposition thickness
t.sub.3 between the top of the notch 608 and the diffusion barrier
616 may be between about 10 nm and about 150 nm, more preferably
between about 20 nm to about 100 nm, but could be higher or lower
depending on the desired embodiment.
[0097] As illustrated, the aperture 524 may have a "C" shape in
some approaches. As also illustrated, the conductive metal film
(526, 608) has an inverted T-shape.
[0098] In alternative approaches, the conductive metal film (526,
608) may have an "E" shape, whereby wings (not shown) extend
upwardly from opposite ends of the main body 526. Although not
illustrated, the E shaped conductive metal film may act as a
plasmonic device with a field enhancing notch, similar to the
T-shaped conductive film as described herein, but is not limited
thereto.
[0099] Referring now to FIG. 6F, a metallic layer 616 is deposited
over the exposed portions of the aperture 524 and the main body
526. The metallic layer acts as a diffusion barrier between the
aperture 524 and the magnetic lip 522.
[0100] A resist 618 may be patterned above the diffusion barrier
616, as shown in FIG. 6G, whereby a wraparound layer 620 and heat
sink 622 may be formed. The resist 618 may include any conventional
material as would be appreciated by one skilled in the art upon
reading the present description. Moreover, the wraparound layer 620
and the heat sink 622 are comprised of materials with high thermal
conductivity such as Au, Ag, Cu, Ta, Ti, Cr, etc. However, in other
embodiments the wraparound layer 620 and/or heat sink 622 may
include any other desirable materials.
[0101] Moving to FIG. 6H, the resist 618 is preferably removed
using a combination of subtractive processes that may include ion
milling, reactive ion etch and wet etching. Magnetic lip 522 is
then deposited in the void created after removal of resist 618.
Depending on the desired embodiment, the magnetic lip 522 may be
formed using sputtering, plating, or any of the other methods
described herein and/or which would be apparent to one skilled in
the art upon reading the present description.
[0102] In various embodiments, the magnetic lip 522 may include any
of the materials listed above with reference to FIG. 5. However, in
further approaches, the magnetic lip 522 may include any suitable
magnetic alloy, including Co, Fe, Ni, etc., and/or combinations
thereof. The width w.sub.3 of the magnetic lip 522 in a cross track
direction 630 may be between about 150 nm and about 500 nm, but
could be higher or lower depending on the desired embodiment.
[0103] According to several illustrative embodiments, FIGS. 7A-7C
depict variations of the embodiment of FIG. 6H having exemplary
constructions of the diffusion barrier 616 within an apparatus 700,
710, 720 respectively. Accordingly, various components of FIGS.
7A-7C have common numbering with those of FIG. 6H. Moreover, it
should be noted that FIGS. 7A-7C (and the other FIGS.) should be
deemed to include any and all possible permutations.
[0104] Referring now to FIG. 7A, the diffusion barrier 616 is
illustrated as being formed along the entire top surface of the
aperture 524. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 7B, the diffusion
barrier 616 may extend along only a portion of the top surface of
the aperture 524 while covering the entire bottom surface of the
magnetic lip 522.
[0105] Looking now to FIG. 7C, the diffusion barrier 616 may be
formed such that it encircles the magnetic lip 522 on three sides.
As mentioned above, none of the embodiments illustrated in FIGS.
7A-7C are intended to limit the invention in any way. Rather they
are intended to illustrate the different construction options of
the diffusion barrier 616 as used herein.
[0106] It should be noted that methodology presented herein for at
least some of the various embodiments may be implemented, in whole
or in part, in computer hardware, software, by hand, using
specialty equipment, etc. and combinations thereof.
[0107] Moreover, any of the dimensions described herein with regard
to any of the FIGS. and/or any other embodiment thereof, may be
higher or lower than the values listed, depending on the particular
sizes and shapes of components in such particular embodiments.
[0108] While various embodiments have been described above, it
should be understood that they have been presented by way of
example only, and not limitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of an
embodiment of the present invention should not be limited by any of
the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined
only in accordance with the following claims and their
equivalents.
* * * * *