Oxidizing or reducing atmosphere for heat-assisted magnetic recording

Abstract

A heat-assisted magnetic recording device is disposed in a hermetically sealed enclosure. The device includes a slider comprising a reader, a writer, and an optical waveguide configured to couple light from a light source to a near-field transducer situated at or near an air bearing surface of the slider. The near-field transducer comprises an enlarged portion and a peg extending from the enlarged portion in a direction of the air bearing surface. A fill gas is provided within the enclosure. The fill gas comprises a mixture of a low-density, inert gas and at least one gas that oxidizes carbon, where the total carbon oxidizing gas concentration of the fill gas is 3-50% by volume. In certain embodiments, the fill gas comprises a hydrogen concentration sufficient to retard oxidation of the peg when the peg is at an operating temperature associated with write operations.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a hermetically sealed enclosure;   a heat-assisted magnetic recording device disposed in the enclosure, the device including a slider comprising:   a reader and a writer;   an optical waveguide configured to couple light from a light source to a near-field transducer situated at or near an air bearing surface of the slider;   the near-field transducer comprising an enlarged portion and a peg extending from the enlarged portion in a direction of the air bearing surface; and   a fill gas provided within the enclosure, the fill gas comprising a mixture of helium and a concentration of 10% or less by volume of oxygen to react with carbon proximate the near-field transducer and prevent formation of amorphous carbon proximate the near-field transducer when the peg is at an operating temperature associated with write operations.   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the fill gas comprises a mixture of helium and a concentration of 3.1-10% by volume of oxygen. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the fill gas comprises a mixture of helium and a concentration of 1% by volume of oxygen. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the fill gas comprises gaseous H 2 O. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the peg comprises rhodium. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the peg comprises iridium. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the operating temperature of the peg associated with write operations ranges from about 350° C. to about 450° C. 
     
     
         28 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a hermetically sealed enclosure;   a heat-assisted magnetic recording device disposed in the enclosure, the device including a slider comprising:   a reader and a writer;   an optical waveguide configured to couple light from a light source to a near-field transducer situated at or near an air bearing surface of the slider;   the near-field transducer comprising an enlarged portion and a peg extending from the enlarged portion in a direction of the air bearing surface; and   a fill gas provided within the enclosure, the fill gas comprising a mixture of helium and a concentration of 9-11% by volume of oxygen to react with carbon proximate the near-field transducer and prevent formation of amorphous carbon proximate the near-field transducer when the peg is at an operating temperature associated with write operations.   
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the fill gas comprises gaseous H 2 O. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the peg comprises rhodium. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the peg comprises iridium. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the operating temperature of the peg associated with write operations ranges from about 350° C. to about 450° C. 
     
     
         33 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a hermetically sealed enclosure;   a heat-assisted magnetic recording device disposed in the enclosure, the device including a slider comprising:   a reader and a writer;   an optical waveguide configured to couple light from a light source to a near-field transducer situated at or near an air bearing surface of the slider;   the near-field transducer comprising an enlarged portion and a peg extending from the enlarged portion in a direction of the air bearing surface; and   a fill gas provided within the enclosure, the fill gas comprising a mixture of helium and a concentration of 3-20% by volume of oxygen to react with carbon proximate the near-field transducer and prevent formation of amorphous carbon proximate the near-field transducer when the peg is at an operating temperature associated with write operations.   
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein the fill gas comprises a mixture of helium and a concentration of 5-15% by volume of oxygen. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein the fill gas comprises a mixture of helium and a concentration of 9-11% by volume of oxygen. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein the fill gas comprises a mixture of helium and a concentration of 3.1-10% by volume of oxygen. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein the fill gas comprises gaseous H 2 O. 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein the peg comprises rhodium. 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein the peg comprises iridium. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein the operating temperature of the peg associated with write operations ranges from about 350° C. to about 450° C.