Thermally-assisted magnetic recording head including a main pole and a plasmon generator

A thermally-assisted magnetic recording head comprising:

• a medium facing surface that faces a recording medium;
• a main pole that generates a write magnetic field for writing data on the recording medium;
• a waveguide including a core that propagates light and a cladding that is located around the core;
• and
• a plasmon generator, wherein
• the plasmon generator includes a first metal layer and a second metal layer,
• the first metal layer is formed of a first metal material, is located away from the medium facing surface, and includes a plasmon exciting portion on which a surface plasmon is excited on a basis of the light propagating through the core,
• the second metal layer is formed of a second metal material, is located on the first metal layer, and includes a bottom surface in contact with the first metal layer, a top surface located on a side opposite to the bottom surface, a front end face that is located in the medium facing surface and generates near-field light from the surface plasmon, and a connecting surface that connects the top surface and the front end face, and
• the connecting surface includes an inclined portion inclined relative to a direction perpendicular to the medium facing surface.