Magnetic head for perpendicular magnetic recording and method of manufacturing the same, the magnetic head including pole layer and two shields sandwiching the pole layer

摘要

A magnetic head includes a pole layer, a first and a second shield disposed to sandwich the pole layer, and a nonmagnetic layer disposed around the first shield. The pole layer includes a first portion having an end face located in a medium facing surface, and a second portion that is located farther from the medium facing surface than is the first portion. The second portion is greater in thickness than the first portion. A bottom surface of the second portion is located closer to a substrate than is a bottom surface of the first portion. The first shield has a first top surface portion opposed to the bottom surface of the first portion with the first gap layer in between. The nonmagnetic layer has a second top surface portion opposed to the bottom surface of the second portion with the first gap layer in between. A difference in level is formed between the first and the second top surface portion such that the second top surface portion is located closer to the substrate than is the first top surface portion.