Leading shield for magnetic recording heads

A magnetic recording device comprising:

• a magnetic recording head, comprising:
• a leading shield comprising a lower layer and an upper layer disposed on the lower layer, wherein both the lower and upper layers are magnetic, and wherein the upper layer and the lower layer are in contact with one another;
• a trailing shield;
• and
• a main pole disposed between the leading shield and the trailing shield, wherein the upper layer of the leading shield is disposed adjacent the main pole, wherein a direction of magnetization of the upper layer of the leading shield is parallel to a direction of magnetization of the trailing shield.

A magnetic recording head, comprising:

• a leading shield comprising a lower layer and an upper layer disposed on the lower layer, the lower layer and the upper layer both being magnetic, wherein the upper layer and the lower layer are in contact with one another;
• a trailing shield;
• and
• a main pole disposed between the leading shield and the trailing shield, wherein the upper layer of the leading shield is disposed adjacent the main pole, wherein a direction of magnetization of the lower layer of the leading shield is antiparallel to a direction of magnetization of the trailing shield.

A magnetic recording device comprising:

• a magnetic recording head, comprising:
• a leading shield comprising a lower layer and an upper layer disposed on the lower layer, the lower layer and the upper layer both being magnetic, and wherein the upper layer and the lower layer are in contact with one another;
• a trailing shield;
• and
• a main pole disposed between the leading shield and the trailing shield, wherein the upper layer of the leading shield is disposed adjacent the main pole, wherein a direction of magnetization of the lower layer of the leading shield is antiparallel to a direction of magnetization of the trailing shield.

A magnetic recording head, comprising:

• a leading shield comprising a lower layer and an upper layer disposed on the lower layer, both the lower layer and the upper layer being magnetic, wherein the upper layer and the lower layer are in contact with one another;
• a trailing shield;
• a main pole disposed between the leading shield and the trailing shield;
• and
• a means to set a magnetization direction of the upper layer of the leading shield to match a magnetic field initialization (MFI) of the trailing shield.

A magnetic recording device comprising:

• a magnetic recording head, comprising:
• a leading shield comprising a lower layer and an upper layer disposed on the lower layer, both the lower layer and the upper layer being magnetic, and wherein the upper layer and the lower layer are in contact with one another;
• a trailing shield;
• a main pole disposed between the leading shield and the trailing shield;
• and
• a means to set a magnetization direction of the upper layer of the leading shield to match a magnetic field initialization (MFI) of the trailing shield.