Method for providing an energy assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) head

A method for providing an energy assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) head including a slider and an EAMR transducer coupled with the slider, the method comprising:

• depositing an antireflective coating layer on a portion of the slider;
• providing a wet-etchable material, a first portion of the wet etchable-material residing on the portion of the slider, a second portion of the wet-etchable material being physically separated from the first portion of the wet-etchable material;
• providing a top layer on the slider, the top layer covering the wet etchable material, the top layer having a mirror well and a heat sink cavity therein, the first portion of the wet-etchable material residing in the mirror well, the second portion of the wet-etchable material residing in the heat sink cavity;
• planarizing the EAMR head such that a top surface of the top layer is substantially flat and a remaining part of the first portion of the wet-etchable material and a remaining part of the second portion of the wet-etchable material are exposed, a remaining part of the second portion of the wet-etchable material in the heat sink cavity forming a heat sink;
• providing a bond pad on the heat sink;
• providing a mask, the mask covering the bond pad and the heat sink, the mask exposing at least portion of the mirror well;
• removing the remaining part of the first portion of the wet-etchable material in the mirror cavity using a wet etch;
• removing the mask;
• affixing a laser having a light-emitting surface to the bond pad;
• and
• providing a mirror optically coupled with the laser, the mirror having a bottom surface and a reflective surface facing the light-emitting surface of the laser, a portion of the bottom surface being affixed to the top surface of the top layer, a portion of the mirror including a portion of the reflective surface residing in the mirror well.