Heat assisted magnetic recording head with multilayer electromagnetic radiation emission structure

Abstract

A heat assisted magnetic recording head with a multilayer electromagnetic (EM) radiation emission structure. The multilayer EM radiation emission structure is in optical communication with a light source for heating a recording medium. Particularly, the multilayer EM radiation emission structure includes a conducting layer for receiving the light source and a protective layer formed adjacent the conducting layer to protect the conducting layer from contact with a recording medium. An aperture extends through the conducting layer in the protective layer to allow the light source to pass therethrough to heat the recording medium.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A heat assisted magnetic recording head for use in conjunction with a recording medium, comprising: 
 means for applying a magnetic write field to the recording medium;    means for providing a light source; and    a multilayer electromagnetic radiation emission structure in optical communication with said means for providing a light source, said multilayer electromagnetic radiation emission structure defining an aperture that extends therethrough.    
     
     
         2 . The heat assisted magnetic recording head of  claim 1 , wherein said multilayer electromagnetic radiation emission structure includes a conducting layer in optical communication with said means for providing a light source.  
     
     
         3 . The heat assisted magnetic recording head of  claim 2 , wherein said multilayer electromagnetic radiation emission structure also includes a protective layer formed between said conducting layer and the recording medium.  
     
     
         4 . The heat assisted magnetic recording head of  claim 2 , wherein said conducting layer comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of Au, Ag, or Al.  
     
     
         5 . The heat assisted magnetic recording head of  claim 2 , wherein said conducting layer has a thickness in the range of about 10 nm to about 1000 nm.  
     
     
         6 . The heat assisted magnetic recording head of  claim 3 , wherein said protective layer comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of Ta, Ti, W, Mo, or Cr.  
     
     
         7 . The heat assisted magnetic recording head of  claim 3 , wherein said protective layer has a thickness in the range of about 0.5 nm to about 100 nm.  
     
     
         8 . The heat assisted magnetic recording head of  claim 1 , wherein said aperture has a width in the range of about 1 nm to about 250 nm.  
     
     
         9 . The heat assisted magnetic recording head of  claim 1 , wherein said multilayer electromagnetic radiation emission structure is an optical antenna.  
     
     
         10 . A multilayer electromagnetic radiation emission structure in optical communication with a light source for heating a recording medium, comprising: 
 a conducting layer for receiving the light source, said conducting layer defining a first aperture that extends therethrough; and    a protective layer formed adjacent said conducting layer, said protective layer defining a second aperture that extends therethrough and that is aligned with said first aperture to allow the light source to pass through said first and second apertures to heat the recording medium.    
     
     
         11 . The multilayer electromagnetic radiation emission structure of  claim 10 , further including an additional conducting layer formed on at least a portion of a sidewall of said first aperture and/or on at least a portion of a sidewall of said second aperture.  
     
     
         12 . The multilayer electromagnetic radiation emission structure of  claim 11 , wherein said conducting layer and/or said additional conducting layer comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of Au, Ag, or Al.  
     
     
         13 . The multilayer electromagnetic radiation emission structure of  claim 11 , further including an additional protective layer formed on at least a portion of said additional conducting layer.  
     
     
         14 . The multilayer electromagnetic radiation emission structure of  claim 13 , wherein said protective layer and/or said additional protective layer comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of Ta, Ti, W, Mo, or Cr.  
     
     
         15 . The multilayer electromagnetic radiation emission structure of  claim 10 , wherein said aperture has a width in the range of about 1 nm to about 250 nm.  
     
     
         16 . A method of making a multilayer electromagnetic radiation emission structure for use with a light source to heat a recording medium, comprising: 
 depositing a conducting layer for optically communicating with the light source;    depositing a protective layer adjacent the conducting layer for protecting the conducting layer from contact with the recording medium; and    forming an aperture that extends through the conducting layer and the protective layer to allow the light source to pass therethrough to heat the recording medium.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further including depositing an additional conducting layer on at least a portion of a sidewall of the aperture.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the depositing of an additional conducting layer is performed by a directional deposition technique.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further including depositing an additional protective layer on at least a portion of the additional conducting layer.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the depositing of an additional protective layer is performed by a directional deposition technique.