Method and system for performing off-disk measurements of laser-induced NFT protrusion in a heat assisted magnetic recording transducer
AssigneeWestern Digital (Fremont), LLC
InventorsWentao Yan, Yu Lo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and system test a heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) transducer. The HAMR transducer is optically coupled to at least one laser and has an air-bearing surface. The HAMR transducer includes at least one waveguide, at least one near-field transducer (NFT) and a pole. A portion of the NFT(s) resides at the ABS. The laser(s) are optically coupled to the NFT(s). The method and system include energizing the laser(s) at power(s) while the HAMR transducer is not in proximity to a media. The method and system also include measuring an off-disk protrusion of the portion of the NFT(s) at the ABS while the laser(s) are energized and the HAMR transducer is not in proximity to the media.
Claims16
A method for testing a heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) transducer, the HAMR transducer being optically coupled to at least one laser, having an air-bearing surface, and including at least one waveguide, at least one near-field transducer (NFT) and a pole, a portion of the at least one NFT residing at the ABS, the laser being optically coupled to the at least one NFT, the method comprising:
- energizing the at least one laser with at least one power while the HAMR transducer is not in proximity to a media;
- and
- measuring an off-disk protrusion of the portion of the at least one NFT at the ABS while the at least one laser is energized with the at least one power and the HAMR transducer is not in proximity to the media.
A method for testing a heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) transducer, the HAMR transducer being optically coupled to at least one laser, having an air-bearing surface, and including at least one waveguide, at least one near-field transducer (NFT) and a pole, a portion of the at least one NFT residing at the ABS, the laser being optically coupled to the at least one NFT, the method comprising:
- energizing the at least one laser with at least one power while the HAMR transducer is not in proximity to a media;
- and
- measuring an off-disk protrusion of the portion of the at least one NFT at the ABS while the at least one laser is energized with the at least one power and the HAMR transducer is not in proximity to the media, wherein the step of measuring the off-disk protrusion further includes:
- measuring the off-disk protrusion using an atomic force microscope (AFM).
A method for testing a heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) transducer, the HAMR transducer being optically coupled to at least one laser, having an air-bearing surface, and including at least one waveguide, at least one near-field transducer (NFT) and a pole, a portion of the at least one NFT residing at the ABS, the laser being optically coupled to the at least one NFT, the method comprising:
- mounting the HAMR transducer in a measurement device;
- measuring a baseline location of the portion of the at least one NFT using the measurement device while the at least one laser is not energized;
- energizing the at least one laser after the step of measuring the NFT baseline location and while the HAMR transducer is in the measurement device;
- and
- measuring an operational location of the portion of the at least one NFT at the ABS while the at least one laser is energized using the measurement device;
- determining an off-disk protrusion of the portion of the at least one NFT based on the baseline location and operational location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.