A solid-immersion mirror has two reflective portions surrounding a focal region. A thermal sensor that senses temperature as a function of resistance is proximate at least one of the two reflective portions of the solid-immersion mirror. A near-field transducer is located proximate the focal region of the solid-immersion mirror. The near-field transducer directs optical energy to a magnetic recording medium.

An apparatus includes a near-field transducer (NFT) of a heat-assisted magnetic recording head. The NFT includes a substantially C-shaped portion and a peg portion extending from the substantially C-shaped portion. A planar member is disposed adjacent the NFT. The planar member includes a bottom surface configured to support surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) that resonantly excite the NFT. A barrier member is installed within the planar member and is arranged to encompass at least a tip portion of the peg.

An apparatus includes an input coupler configured to receive light excited by a light source. A near-field transducer (NFT) is positioned at a media-facing surface of a write head. A layered waveguide is positioned between the input coupler and the NFT and configured to receive the light output from the input coupler in a transverse electric (TE) mode and deliver the light to the NFT in a transverse magnetic (TM) mode. The layered waveguide comprises a first layer extending along a light-propagation direction. The first layer is configured to receive light from the input coupler. The first layer tapers from a first cross track width to a second cross track width where the second cross track width is narrower than the first cross track width. The layered waveguide includes a second layer that is disposed on the first layer. The second layer has a cross sectional area in a plane perpendicular to the light propagation direction that increases along the light propagation direction. The cross sectional area of the second layer is smaller proximate to the input coupler and larger proximate to the NFT.

An apparatus, according to one embodiment, comprises a near field transducer; an adhesion layer on a media facing side of the near field transducer, the adhesion layer comprising Ni and Cr; and a protective layer on a media facing side of the adhesion layer. Other apparatuses, systems and methods are described in additional embodiments.

An apparatus includes a waveguide that delivers energy from an energy source, a write pole located proximate the waveguide at a media-facing surface, and a near-field transducer located proximate the write pole in a down track direction. The near-field transducer includes an enlarged portion and a peg extending from the enlarged portion towards the media-facing surface. The peg comprises a taper facing away from the write pole, and the taper causes a reduced down track dimension of the peg near the media-facing surface.

An apparatus, according to one embodiment, comprises a near field transducer; an adhesion layer on a media facing side of the near field transducer, the adhesion layer comprising Ni and Cr; and a protective layer on a media facing side of the adhesion layer. Other apparatuses, systems and methods are described in additional embodiments.

A method and apparatus are directed to providing relative movement between a slider configured for heat-assisted magnetic recording and a magnetic recording medium, and causing protrusion of a portion of an air bearing surface (ABS) of the slider in response to activating at least a laser source while maintaining spacing between the protrusion and the medium. A magnitude of at least a portion of the protrusion is measured while maintaining spacing between the protrusion and the medium.

A recording head includes a near-field transducer located an oblique angle to a media-facing surface. The near-field transducer includes an enlarged portion and a peg extending from the enlarged portion towards the media-facing surface at a normal angle. An input waveguide of the recording head receives energy from an energy source, and an output waveguide delivers the energy to near-field transducer at the oblique angle. The output waveguide is oriented at the oblique angle. A bent waveguide with a polynomial spiral shape joins the input waveguide and the output waveguide.

A system, according to one embodiment, includes a near field transducer; an adhesion layer on a media facing side of the near field transducer, the adhesion layer comprising Ni and Cr; and a protective layer on a media facing side of the adhesion layer. Other systems and methods are described in additional embodiments.

A test involves iterations over a series of laser powers of a heat-assisted read/write head. The iterations involve writing to a recording medium at the selected laser power for a sufficient duration to ensure thermal equilibrium of the read/write head at an end of the write. A clearance-control heater of the read/write head is transitioned from a pre-write power before a start of the write to a steady-state write power. The iterations further involve measuring a temperature of the read/write head during the write and adjusting the steady-state write power to achieve a predefined difference between the temperature at the start of the write and the end of the write. The adjusted steady state write power is stored for each iteration. A write-induced protrusion is determined based on the iterations and used for calibration of the read/write head.