Western Digital Technologies, Inc.

The Provost, Fellows, Scholars and Other Members of Board of Trinity College Dublin

David McCloskey

Alexander Krichevsky

Christopher B Wolf

Fenghua Zong

John Donegan

Frank D Bello

Daniel S Wolf

Kyle Ballantine

Disclosed herein are embodiments of a heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) device comprising a waveguide and a near-field transducer (NFT) coupled to the waveguide. The NFT comprises a core layer comprising an insulator, a first metal layer adjacent to the core layer, and a second layer adjacent to the first metal layer, wherein the second layer comprises a material that is substantially mechanically and thermally stable and thereby functions as a hard jacket to mitigate deformation of the NFT. The first metal layer may comprise a plasmonic metal, such as gold. The second layer may comprise tungsten, chromium, or a dielectric material.

Metal-insulator-metal near-field transducer for heat-assisted magnetic recording

Disclosed herein are embodiments of a heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) device comprising a waveguide and a near-field transducer (NFT) coupled to the waveguide in a direct-fire configuration. The NFT comprises an insulator core encased in a metal portion. The insulator core comprises a rectangular portion and a tapered portion, wherein the rectangular portion is between the waveguide and the tapered portion. The metal portion comprises a plasmonic metal.

Architecture for metal-insulator-metal near-field transducer for heat-assisted magnetic recording

Growing community of inventors

Co. Louth, Ireland

David McCloskey