Heat-sinks for optical near-field transducers

摘要

Thermal energy is generated within an optical NFT when in operation within a HAMR head. A heat-sink assembly within the HAMR head extracts thermal energy from the optical NFT and transmits the thermal energy via convection to air surrounding the HAMR head, radiation to surfaces adjacent to the HAMR head, and/or conduction to other parts of the HAMR head. The thermal energy generated within the optical NFT is conducted to the heat-sink. An air-bearing surface of the heat-sink convectively transfers at least some of the thermal energy to air passing between the air-bearing surface and a surface of an adjacent magnetic medium. Further, some of the thermal energy may also radiatively transfer from the air-bearing surface to the magnetic medium.

主权项

1. A heat assisted magnetic recording head comprising:
an optical near-field transducer; and a heat-sink assembly in thermally conductive contact with the optical near-field transducer and having a convectively cooled surface, wherein the heat-sink assembly at least partially encapsulates the near-field transducer, wherein the heat-sink assembly includes a truncated conical extension from the optical near-field transducer.