US 12,136,446 B2
TDMR SOT read heads having recessed topological insulator materials
Quang Le, San Jose, CA (US); Rohan Babu Nagabhirava, Virginia Beach, VA (US); Xiaoyong Liu, San Jose, CA (US); Brian R. York, San Jose, CA (US); Son T. Le, San Jose, CA (US); Cherngye Hwang, San Jose, CA (US); Kuok San Ho, Emerald Hills, CA (US); and Hisashi Takano, Fujisawa (JP)
Assigned to Western Digital Technologies, Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed by Western Digital Technologies, Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed on Jul. 26, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/226,625.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/420,842, filed on Oct. 31, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0144960 A1, May 2, 2024
Int. Cl. G11B 5/31 (2006.01); G11B 5/11 (2006.01)
CPC G11B 5/11 (2013.01) [G11B 5/3116 (2013.01)] 28 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A read head, comprising:
a lower shield extending to a media facing surface (MFS);
a first spin-orbit torque (SOT) stack disposed over the lower shield, the first SOT stack comprising:
a first SOT layer recessed from the MFS; and
a first free layer disposed over the first SOT layer, the first free layer being exposed at the MFS;
a middle shield disposed over the first free layer, the middle shield extending to the MFS;
a second SOT stack disposed over the middle shield, the second SOT stack comprising:
a second SOT layer recessed from the MFS; and
a second free layer disposed over the second SOT layer, the second free layer being exposed at the MFS; and
an upper shield disposed over the second free layer, the upper shield extending to the MFS.