Near-field transducer for heat assisted magnetic recording comprising of thermally stable material layer

A magnetic recording head, comprising:

• a main pole;
• a waveguide disposed adjacent to the main pole;
• a near field transducer (NFT) coupled between the main pole and the waveguide at a media facing surface (MFS);
• a thermal shunt disposed on the NFT, the thermal shunt being recessed from the MFS;
• and
• a stable material disposed on the NFT between the thermal shunt and the MFS, the stable material having a wedge shape comprising:
• a first surface disposed at the MFS;
• a second surface extending from the MFS to the thermal shunt;
• and
• one of:
• a third surface disposed adjacent to the NFT connecting the first surface to the second surface, or
• a third surface and a fourth surface,
• wherein is the third surface is disposed adjacent to the NFT and the fourth surface disposed adjacent to the thermal shunt and connects the third surface to the second surface,
• wherein a length of the first surface disposed at the MFS is greater than a length of the fourth surface disposed adjacent to the thermal shunt to create the wedge shape, and
• wherein the first surface has a length of about 5 nm to about 60 nm.

A magnetic recording head, comprising:

• a main pole;
• a waveguide disposed adjacent to the main pole;
• a near field transducer (NFT) coupled between the main pole and the waveguide at a media facing surface (MFS);
• a thermal shunt disposed on the NFT, the thermal shunt being recessed from the MFS;
• and
• a stable material disposed on the NFT between the thermal shunt and the MFS, the stable material having a wedge shape comprising:
• a first surface disposed at the MFS;
• a second surface extending from the MFS to the thermal shunt;
• and
• one of:
• a third surface disposed adjacent to the NFT connecting the first surface to the second surface, or
• a third surface and a fourth surface,
• wherein is the third surface is disposed adjacent to the NFT and the fourth surface disposed adjacent to the thermal shunt and connects the third surface to the second surface,
• wherein a length of the first surface disposed at the MFS is greater than a length of the fourth surface disposed adjacent to the thermal shunt to create the wedge shape, and
• wherein the stable material comprises a first stable material layer and a second stable material layer, the first and second stable material layers comprising different materials.

A magnetic recording head, comprising:

• a main pole;
• a waveguide disposed adjacent to the main pole;
• a near field transducer (NFT) coupled between the main pole and the waveguide at a media facing surface (MFS);
• a thermal shunt disposed on the NFT, the thermal shunt being recessed from the MFS;
• and
• a stable material disposed on the NFT between the thermal shunt and the MFS, the stable material comprising a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion extends from the MFS to the second portion at an angle of about 3 degrees to about 87 degrees with respect to the MFS, and wherein the second portion extends from the first portion to the thermal shunt.

A magnetic recording head, comprising:

• a main pole;
• a waveguide disposed adjacent to the main pole;
• a near field transducer (NFT) coupled between the main pole and the waveguide at a media facing surface (MFS);
• a thermal shunt disposed on the NFT, the thermal shunt being recessed from the MFS;
• and
• a stable material disposed on the NFT at the MFS, the stable material being spaced from the thermal shunt by the NFT, wherein the stable material comprises a first surface disposed at the MFS, a second surface disposed substantially perpendicular to the MFS, and a third surface connecting the first surface and the second surface, the third surface being curved.