Bolometer with low scattering for a heat-assisted magnetic recording slider

An apparatus, comprising:

• a slider configured for heat-assisted magnetic recording, the slider having an upper surface, an opposing air bearing surface (ABS), and a body defined between the upper surface and the ABS, the slider comprising:
• a write pole at or near the ABS;
• a near-field transducer (NFT) at or near the ABS and proximate the write pole;
• an optical waveguide configured to receive light from a laser source and comprising a first cladding layer, a second cladding layer, and a core between the first and second cladding layers, the core having a width, a length extending between the upper surface of the slider and the NFT, and a longitudinal axis oriented along the length of the core;
• and
• a bolometer situated within the body of the slider at a location that receives at least some of the light communicated along the waveguide used during a writing operation, the bolometer spaced apart from the core and comprising a longitudinal axis oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the core.