Spin orbit torque based thermal sensor for insitu monitoring of magnetic recording head

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2026050050-A1
Application number	US-202519366465-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 22, 2025
Priority date	Mar 13, 2023
Publication date	Feb 19, 2026
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present disclosure generally relates to temperature detection devices including a ferromagnetic (FM) material disposed at a media facing surface (MFS). The FM material is configured to produce a first electric voltage signal in response to a temperature gradient due to an anomalous Nernst effect. The temperature detection device may also include a spin-orbit torque (SOT) material abutting the FM material. The SOT material includes at least one of BiSb, a topological insulator, a topological half-Heusler alloy, or a weakly oxidized heavy metal. The SOT material is recessed from the MFS, wherein the SOT material is configured to receive a spin current parallel to the temperature gradient generated by a spin Seebeck effect in the FM material. The spin current is detectable as a second electric voltage signal via an inverse spin Hall effect. The first electric voltage signal is added to the second electric voltage signal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A magnetic recording head, comprising:
a read head; and a temperature detection device disposed adjacent to the read head, the temperature detection device comprising:
a ferromagnetic (FM) material disposed at a media facing surface (MFS), wherein the FM material has a magnetization direction parallel to the MFS, wherein a temperature gradient of the FM material is perpendicular to the MFS, wherein the FM material is configured to generate an electric voltage signal in response to a temperature gradient due to an anomalous Nernst effect.

2 . The magnetic recording head of claim 1 , wherein the temperature detection device further comprises an antiferromagnetic (AFM) material disposed adjacent to the FM material.

3 . The magnetic recording head of claim 1 , wherein the temperature detection device is configured to read a voltage across the FM material in a cross-track direction.

4 . The magnetic recording head of claim 1 , wherein the temperature detection device further comprises a heat sink, wherein the heat sink is recessed from the MFS.

5 . The magnetic recording head of claim 1 , wherein the FM material has a width, a height, and a thickness, wherein the width of the FM material is greater than the height of the FM material.

6 . The magnetic recording head of claim 1 , wherein the FM material has a width, a height, and a thickness, wherein the width of the FM material is greater than the thickness of the FM material.

7 . A magnetic recording device, comprising the magnetic recording head of claim 1 .

8 . A magnetic recording head, comprising:
a ferromagnetic (FM) material disposed at a media facing surface (MFS), wherein the FM material has a magnetization direction parallel to the MFS; and a spin-orbit torque (SOT) material, wherein the SOT material abuts the FM material and is recessed from the MFS.

9 . The magnetic recording head of claim 8 , wherein the SOT material comprises a body portion and an overhang portion, wherein the overhang portion is stacked on the FM material, and the body portion abuts the FM material.

10 . The magnetic recording head of claim 8 , wherein the FM material is configured to produce a first electric voltage signal in response to a temperature gradient due to an anomalous Nernst effect, wherein the SOT material is configured to produce a spin current parallel to the temperature gradient via a spin Seebeck effect, the spin current being detectable as a second electric voltage signal via the inverse spin Hall effect, wherein the first electric voltage signal is added to the second electric voltage signal.

11 . The magnetic recording head of claim 8 , wherein the SOT material comprises a seed layer, a buffer layer disposed on the seed layer, a nucleation layer disposed on the buffer layer, a SOT material sub-layer disposed on the nucleation layer, an interlayer disposed on the SOT material sub-layer, a barrier layer disposed on the interlayer, a cap layer disposed on the barrier layer, and an electrode disposed on the cap layer.

12 . The magnetic recording head of claim 8 , wherein the SOT material comprises a seed layer, a texture layer disposed on the seed layer, a buffer layer disposed on the texture layer, a nucleation layer disposed on the buffer layer, a SOT material sub-layer disposed on the nucleation layer, a first interlayer disposed on the SOT material sub-layer, a second interlayer disposed on the first interlayer, a barrier layer disposed on the second interlayer, and a cap layer disposed on the barrier layer.

13 . The magnetic recording head of claim 8 , wherein the SOT material comprises a seed layer, a texture layer disposed on the seed layer, a buffer layer disposed on the texture layer, a SOT material sub-layer disposed on the buffer layer, an interlayer disposed on the SOT material sub-layer, and a cap layer disposed on the interlayer.

14 . The magnetic recording head of claim 8 , further comprising a read head disposed adjacent to the FM material and the SOT material.

15 . A magnetic recording device, comprising the magnetic recording head of claim 8 .

16 . A magnetic recording head, comprising:
a read head; a temperature detection device disposed adjacent to the read head, the temperature detection device comprising:
a ferromagnetic (FM) material disposed at a media facing surface (MFS), wherein the FM material has a magnetization direction parallel to the MFS, wherein a temperature gradient of the FM material is perpendicular to the MFS, wherein the FM material is configured to generate an electric voltage signal in response to a temperature gradient due to an anomalous Nernst effect; and
a voltage meter coupled to the temperature detection device.

17 . The magnetic recording head of claim 16 , wherein the voltage meter is coupled to the FM material.

18 . The magnetic recording head of claim 16 , wherein the temperature detection device further comprises an antiferromagnetic (AFM) material disposed adjacent to the FM material.

19 . The magnetic recording head of claim 16 , wherein:
the FM material has a width, a height, and a thickness, wherein the width of the FM material is greater than the height of the FM material; or the FM material has a width, a height, and a thickness, wherein the width of the FM material is greater than the thickness of the FM material.

20 . The magnetic recording head of claim 16 , wherein the temperature detection device further comprises a heat sink, wherein the heat sink is recessed from the MFS.

21 . A magnetic recording device, comprising the magnetic recording head of claim 16 .

Assignees

• Western Digital Tech Inc
• Inst Of Science Tokyo

Inventors

• Le Quang
• Liu Xiaoyong
• York Brian R
• Hwang Cherngye
• Nagabhirava Rohan Babu
• Ho Kuok San
• Takano Hisashi
• Le Son T
• Pham Nam Hai
• Ho Huy H

Classifications

• G01R33/093

  using multilayer structures, e.g. giant magnetoresistance sensors (thin magnetic films H01F10/00) · CPC title

• G01R33/0052 Primary

  Manufacturing aspects; Manufacturing of single devices, i.e. of semiconductor magnetic sensor chips (devices based on galvano-magnetic effect or the like H10N50/85) · CPC title

• G01R33/075 Primary

  Hall devices configured for spinning current measurements · CPC title