Importance

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Abstract

A thermal assisted magnetic recording head of the present invention has an air bearing surface (ABS) opposite to a magnetic recording medium, a core that can propagate laser light as propagating light, a plasmon generator that includes a generator front end surface facing the ABS, and a main pole that faces the ABS and emits magnetic flux to the magnetic recording medium. The plasmon generator is opposite to a part of the core and extends to the generator front surface, is coupled with a portion of the propagating light that propagates through the core in the surface plasmon mode to generate a surface plasmon, propagates the surface plasmon to the generator front end surface, and generates near-field light (NF light) at the generator front end surface to irradiate the NF light to the magnetic recording medium. The ABS has a protrusion that is closer to the leading side than the generator front end surface in the down track direction, and that protrudes more toward the magnetic recording medium than the generator front end surface upon operation of the thermal assisted magnetic recording head.

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First Claim