Method of manufacturing thin-film magnetic head

A method of manufacturing a thin-film magnetic head, the head comprising:

• a medium facing surface that faces toward a recording medium;
• a first pole layer and a second pole layer that are magnetically coupled to each other and include magnetic pole portions opposed to each other and located in regions of the pole layers on a side of the medium facing surface;
• a gap layer provided between the pole portion of the first pole layer and the pole portion of the second pole layer;
• and
• a thin-film coil, at least part of the coil being disposed between the first and second pole layers and insulated from the first and second pole layers, wherein
• the second pole layer incorporates a track width defining portion for defining a track width, the method comprising the steps of:
• forming the first pole layer;
• forming the thin-film coil on the first pole layer;
• forming the gap layer on the pole portion of the first pole layer;
• forming a mask on the gap layer for making an end portion of the gap layer for defining a throat height;
• forming the end portion of the gap layer by selectively etching the gap layer and a portion of the first pole layer through the use of the mask;
• forming a nonmagnetic layer so as to fill etched portions of the gap layer and the first pole layer while the mask is left unremoved;
• removing the mask after the nonmagnetic layer is formed;
• and
• forming the second pole layer on the gap layer after the mask is removed.