An information recording and reproducing apparatus and a method for manufacturing a slider used in the same.

摘要

An information recording and reproducing apparatus of the present invention, in which a tunnel current is utilized for recording information to a recording surface (9) of a recording medium (10) and/or for reproducing information from the recording surface (9), includes a slider (6) which is arranged on the recording surface (9) and floats above the recording surface (9) by an air flow caused by movement of the recording medium (10). The slider (6) includes a body (60) having a first surface (62) positioned opposite to the recording surface (9), a second surface (63) parallel to the first surface, and a third surface (61) oblique to the first and second surfaces (62, 63). The slider further includes a cantilever (7) having a projecting portion (64) projecting from the body (60) so as to be substantialy parallel to the recording surface (9) and a tip (8) for detecting the tunnel current formed on a surface (9) of the projecting portion (64) on the side of the recording surface (9).