Thermally-assisted magnetic recording (TAMR) head with magnetic assist current

A disk drive write head comprising:

• a main write pole including a tip portion and configured to direct a magnetic field for interacting with a magnetic recording medium;
• a magnetic yoke element;
• a laser diode system configured to heat a portion of the magnetic recording medium;
• and
• a heating element, wherein the heating element and the main write pole are part of a parallel bias circuit that is configured to, when energized, direct a direct current (DC) bias current flow along an electrical path from the magnetic yoke element to the tip portion of the main write pole adjacent to an air bearing surface (ABS).

A method for applying a bias current to a thermally-assisted magnetic recording (TAMR) head, the method comprising:

• heating, by a heating element, a magnetic recording material;
• generating an alternating current (AC) current flow by one or more coils connected to a main write pole via an inductive pole, the AC current flow generating a magnetic field for interacting with the magnetic recording material;
• and
• generating, by a parallel bias circuit, a direct current (DC) bias current flow configured to flow along an electrical path from a magnetic yoke element to a tip portion of the main write pole adjacent to an air bearing surface (ABS).