Head for thermal assisted magnetic recording device, and thermal assisted magnetic recording device

A magnetic recording apparatus, comprising:

• a magnetic recording medium;
• a rotation unit for rotating the magnetic recording medium;
• a head for thermal assisted magnetic recording device for applying a recording magnetic field to the magnetic recording medium and for radiating an optical near-field;
• and
• a head drive unit for driving the head for thermal assisted magnetic recording device to a desired position above the magnetic recording medium, wherein:
• the head for thermal assisted magnetic recording device includes a semiconductor laser and a floating slider;
• the floating slider includes:
• an optical near-field generating element;
• and
• a waveguide for guiding emitted light from the semiconductor laser to the optical near-field generating element;
• the semiconductor laser is placed on a side surface of the floating slider;
• an entrance of the waveguide is located on a side of the side surface of the floating slider;
• the emitted light from the semiconductor laser is directly coupled to the entrance of the waveguide;
• and
• a traveling direction of light inside of the waveguide changes within the floating slider to a direction toward the optical near-field generating element.