Perpendicular magnetic recording head having main magnetic pole layer formed on high-flatness surface of yoke layer, and method of manufacturing the head

A perpendicular magnetic recording head comprising an auxiliary magnetic pole layer, an insulating layer formed on said auxiliary magnetic pole layer, and a main magnetic pole layer formed on said insulating layer, wherein:

• magnetic data is recorded on a recording medium by a perpendicular magnetic field concentrated on said main magnetic pole layer when a recording magnetic field is applied to said auxiliary magnetic pole layer and said main magnetic pole layer from a coil layer embedded in said insulating layer;
• said main magnetic pole layer is formed on a high-flatness surface and has a front end surface positioned in an opposing surface of the head opposite to said recording medium, said front end surface being formed in a shape with a width size gradually increasing in a direction of track width as said front end surface departs farther away from said auxiliary magnetic pole layer, said front end surface having an upper edge, of which width size in the direction of track width is defined as a track width Tw;
• a yoke layer is formed in a larger film thickness than said main magnetic pole layer and has a cross-sectional area in a cross-section cut parallel to said opposing surface larger than an area of the front end surface of said main magnetic pole layer, said yoke layer having a front end surface positioned inward of said opposing surface and being magnetically coupled to said main magnetic pole layer;
• a connecting layer rising from said auxiliary magnetic pole layer is formed inward of said opposing surface;
• said yoke layer is formed on said insulating layer flattened into a high-flatness surface and has a base end portion magnetically coupled to said connecting layer, and a fourth insulating layer is formed between the front end surface of said yoke layer and said opposing surface, an upper surface of said fourth insulating layer and an upper surface of said yoke layer being flattened flush with each other;
• and
• said main magnetic pole layer is formed to lie on the high-flatness upper surface of said yoke layer.