Write pole fabricated using a carbon hard mask and method of making

A method of forming a magnetic writer, the method comprising:

• depositing a non-magnetic, oxygen-free buffer material on a substrate, the oxygen-free buffer material comprises Re, Ru, Os, Rh, Ir, or combinations thereof
• depositing a high moment magnetic material on the non-magnetic, oxygen-free buffer material, the magnetic material having a desired thickness for a write pole;
• depositing a hard mask on the magnetic material;
• forming a photoresist mask on the hard mask, the photoresist mask generally defining the desired shape of the write pole;
• patterning the hard mask using the photoresist mask;
• and
• forming the write pole by removing portions of the magnetic material and using the patterned hard mask as a pattern.

A magnetic writer comprising:

• a write pole having a trapezoidal shape at an air bearing surface;
• a substrate;
• a non-magnetic, oxygen-free buffer material located between the write pole and the substrate, the oxygen-free buffer material comprises Re, Ru, Os, Rh, Ir, or combinations thereof;
• a stop layer on an opposite side of the write pole as the non-magnetic, oxygen-free buffer material;
• and
• an insulator surrounding the write pole and the stop layer.