Three-dimensional characterization of near-field transducers by electron tomography

Yuzi Liu; Daniel K. Schreiber; Amanda K. Petford-Long; Kai Zhong Gao

doi:10.1016/j.matchar.2012.07.011

Three-dimensional characterization of near-field transducers by electron tomography

Yuzi Liu^*, Daniel K. Schreiber, Amanda K. Petford-Long, Kai Zhong Gao

^*Corresponding author for this work

Materials Science and Engineering

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was employed to study the structure of near-field transducers (NFT) for applications in heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) heads. The overall shape of NFTs that had passed or failed an optical test was similar, as determined by scanning transmission electron microscopy tomography. However, the absence of a well-defined peg and the presence of a flat top on the 'FAIL' NFT disk induced poor thermal heat transfer from the NFT to the phase change medium and resulted in the optical test failure. The thermal heating around the NFT led to Ta diffusion from the adjacent tantala core and to the presence of Ta-rich particles in the alumina matrix in the plane of the NFT.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	104-110
Number of pages	7
Journal	Materials Characterization
Volume	72
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchar.2012.07.011
State	Published - Oct 2012

Keywords

DB-SEM/FIB
HAMR
Microstructure
TEM
Tomography

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Materials Science(all)
Condensed Matter Physics
Mechanics of Materials
Mechanical Engineering

Access to Document

10.1016/j.matchar.2012.07.011

Cite this

@article{64b7fbba2dbd42b0936a6047e44a1780,

title = "Three-dimensional characterization of near-field transducers by electron tomography",

abstract = "Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was employed to study the structure of near-field transducers (NFT) for applications in heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) heads. The overall shape of NFTs that had passed or failed an optical test was similar, as determined by scanning transmission electron microscopy tomography. However, the absence of a well-defined peg and the presence of a flat top on the 'FAIL' NFT disk induced poor thermal heat transfer from the NFT to the phase change medium and resulted in the optical test failure. The thermal heating around the NFT led to Ta diffusion from the adjacent tantala core and to the presence of Ta-rich particles in the alumina matrix in the plane of the NFT.",

keywords = "DB-SEM/FIB, HAMR, Microstructure, TEM, Tomography",

author = "Yuzi Liu and Schreiber, {Daniel K.} and Petford-Long, {Amanda K.} and Gao, {Kai Zhong}",

note = "Funding Information: Use of the Center for Nanoscale Materials and Electron Microscopy Center for Materials Research were supported by the U. S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences , under Contract No. DE-AC02-06CH11357 .",

year = "2012",

month = oct,

doi = "10.1016/j.matchar.2012.07.011",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "72",

pages = "104--110",

journal = "Materials Characterization",

issn = "1044-5803",

publisher = "Elsevier Inc.",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Three-dimensional characterization of near-field transducers by electron tomography

AU - Liu, Yuzi

AU - Schreiber, Daniel K.

AU - Petford-Long, Amanda K.

AU - Gao, Kai Zhong

N1 - Funding Information: Use of the Center for Nanoscale Materials and Electron Microscopy Center for Materials Research were supported by the U. S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences , under Contract No. DE-AC02-06CH11357 .

PY - 2012/10

Y1 - 2012/10

N2 - Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was employed to study the structure of near-field transducers (NFT) for applications in heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) heads. The overall shape of NFTs that had passed or failed an optical test was similar, as determined by scanning transmission electron microscopy tomography. However, the absence of a well-defined peg and the presence of a flat top on the 'FAIL' NFT disk induced poor thermal heat transfer from the NFT to the phase change medium and resulted in the optical test failure. The thermal heating around the NFT led to Ta diffusion from the adjacent tantala core and to the presence of Ta-rich particles in the alumina matrix in the plane of the NFT.

AB - Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was employed to study the structure of near-field transducers (NFT) for applications in heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) heads. The overall shape of NFTs that had passed or failed an optical test was similar, as determined by scanning transmission electron microscopy tomography. However, the absence of a well-defined peg and the presence of a flat top on the 'FAIL' NFT disk induced poor thermal heat transfer from the NFT to the phase change medium and resulted in the optical test failure. The thermal heating around the NFT led to Ta diffusion from the adjacent tantala core and to the presence of Ta-rich particles in the alumina matrix in the plane of the NFT.

KW - DB-SEM/FIB

KW - HAMR

KW - Microstructure

KW - TEM

KW - Tomography

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84865493131&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84865493131&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.matchar.2012.07.011

DO - 10.1016/j.matchar.2012.07.011

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:84865493131

SN - 1044-5803

VL - 72

SP - 104

EP - 110

JO - Materials Characterization

JF - Materials Characterization

ER -

Three-dimensional characterization of near-field transducers by electron tomography

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this