System and method using on-ramp heating to detect laser mode hopping in heat assisted recording

An apparatus, comprising:

• a channel interface configured to communicate with a heating device on a heat-assisted recording head;
• a servo controller coupled to an actuator that moves the recording head;
• and
• a system controller coupled to the channel interface and the servo controller, the system controller configured to:
• move the heat-assisted recording head onto a ramp such that the recording head is thermally isolated from a moving disk;
• activate the heating device to cause the recording head to obtain a high temperature that is not obtainable when proximate to the moving disk;
• move the recording head over the moving disk such that the recording head reaches an operating temperature that is below the high temperature;
• determine one or more temperatures between the high temperature and the operational temperature at which a laser of the recording head experiences mode-hopping;
• and
• use the one or more temperatures to mitigate mode hops during an operation of the recording head.

A system, comprising:

• a heat-assisted recording head comprising at least a laser, a heating device, and a sensor from which temperature data can be derived;
• an actuator that moves the recording head across a disk;
• and
• a system controller coupled to the recording head and the actuator, the system controller configured to:
• move the heat-assisted recording head onto a ramp such that the recording head is thermally isolated from the disk;
• activate the heating device to cause the recording head to obtain a high temperature that is not obtainable when proximate to the moving disk;
• move the recording head over the disk when the disk is moving such that the recording head reaches an operating temperature that is below the high temperature;
• determine, via the sensor, one or more temperatures between the high temperature and the operational temperature at which the laser of the recording head experiences mode-hopping;
• and
• use the one or more temperatures to mitigate mode hops during an operation of the recording head.