Thin film magnetic head and magnetic recording apparatus

A thin film magnetic head comprising:

• a magnetic pole layer that generates a recording magnetic field for magnetizing a recording medium in the perpendicular direction;
• and
• a magnetic shield layer disposed on the front side in a recording medium travel direction of the magnetic pole layer,
• wherein the magnetic pole layer recedes from the magnetic shield layer to the side apart from a recording-medium-facing surface.

A magnetic recording apparatus on which a recording medium and a thin film magnetic head for performing a magnetic process on the recording medium are mounted,

• wherein the thin film magnetic head comprises:
• a thin film coil that generates magnetic flux;
• a magnetic pole layer which extends from a side close to a recording-medium-facing surface facing a recording medium traveling in a medium travel direction toward a side far from the recording-medium-facing surface and generates a magnetic field for magnetizing the recording medium in a direction orthogonal to the surface of the recording medium on the basis of the magnetic flux generated by the thin film coil;
• and
• a magnetic shield layer which extends from the side close to the recording-medium-facing surface toward the side far from the recording-medium-facing surface on the front side in the medium travel direction of the magnetic pole layer, is separated from the magnetic pole layer via a gap layer on the side close to the recording-medium-facing surface, and is coupled to the magnetic pole layer via a back gap on the side far from the recording-medium-facing surface, and
• the magnetic pole layer recedes from the magnetic shield layer to the side far from the recording-medium-facing surface.