PMR write head with assisted magnetic layer

A perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) writer, comprising:

• (a) a main pole comprised of a trailing side and a leading side with respect to a down-track direction, the leading side has a leading edge at an air bearing surface (ABS) and the trailing side has a trailing edge at the ABS and is further comprised of a tapered trailing side section that extends from the ABS to a section of trailing side that is aligned perpendicular to the ABS;
• (b) a gap layer adjacent to and surrounding the main pole at the ABS wherein said gap layer comprises a write gap formed along the trailing edge and trailing side including the tapered trailing side section;
• (c) a magnetic assist layer made of an anisotropic magnetic layer and comprising a first section formed between the write gap and the tapered trailing side section, and a second section formed between the write gap and a portion of the trailing side section that is aligned perpendicular to the ABS;
• and
• (d) a shield structure comprising a trailing shield that adjoins a side of the write gap that faces away from the main pole.

A method of fabricating a PMR writer with a magnetic assist layer formed adjacent to a trailing side of a main pole at an air bearing surface (ABS), comprising:

• (a) sequentially forming a leading shield layer and a side shield layer on a substrate, said side shield layer has an opening formed therein which is bounded by side shield sidewalls and a top surface of the leading shield layer;
• (b) depositing a side gap along the side shield sidewalls and a leading gap on the top surface of the leading shield layer;
• (c) plating a main pole layer on the side gap and leading gap to fill the opening in the side shield layer, and planarizing a top surface of the main pole to be coplanar with the side shield layer and thereby forming a main pole trailing side with a trailing edge at the ABS;
• (d) depositing a magnetic assist layer made of an anisotropic magnetic material on a portion of the main pole trailing side including the trailing edge;
• (e) depositing a write gap on the magnetic assist layer and on a top surface of the side gap;
• and
• (f) plating a trailing shield on the write gap and portions of the side shield layer.