HAMR media to assist optically transparent build-up on NFT to improve reliability

A magnetic recording medium, comprising:

• a substrate;
• an adhesion layer disposed on the substrate;
• an intermediate layer disposed on the adhesion layer;
• a magnetic recording layer disposed on the intermediate layer;
• at least one capping layer disposed on the magnetic recording layer, wherein the at least one capping layer is doped with a dopant, the dopant comprising a non-absorbing or transparent material;
• an overcoat layer disposed over the at least one capping layer, wherein the overcoat layer is doped with the dopant, wherein the dopant of the overcoat layer comprises between about 2 percent and about 10 percent of the overcoat layer;
• and
• a lubricant layer disposed on the overcoat layer.

A magnetic recording medium, comprising:

• a substrate;
• at least one capping layer disposed over the substrate;
• a carbon containing overcoat layer disposed on the at least one capping layer;
• and
• means to deposit a transparent smear on a magnetic recording head, wherein the means to deposit the transparent smear on the magnetic recording head is disposed in the at least one capping layer, and wherein the transparent smear comprises a material that is transparent in a wavelength range of between about 800 nm and about 900 nm.