1. A thermal-assisted-magnetic-recording head comprising:
a magnetic main pole configured to generate a recording magnetic field;
a magnetic return pole;
a magnetic reproducing element;
a shield formed around the magnetic reproducing element; and
a light directing unit configured to emit light from a light source as a minute light spot from a location adjacent to the magnetic main pole near an air bearing surface, the light directing unit including:
a light coupling unit configured to guide the light from the light source into a magnetic head, and
a high-refractive-index core configured to couple with the light guided by the light coupling unit; and
wherein the light coupling unit comprises a plurality of thin-film-like cores that have higher refractive index than the clad material and that are separated from each other by the clad material; and
wherein the width, the thickness, or the refractive index of a thin-film-like core is selected so that the exudation of the propagating light is larger when the thin-film-like core is farther from the high-refractive-index core.
2. The thermal-assisted-magnetic-recording head according to claim 1,
wherein the thin-film-like core has a width or a thickness configured to allow a mode in which the light propagating along the thin-film-like core significantly exudes from the thin-film-like core, and the thin-film-like core extends from an upper surface of the magnetic head toward the air bearing surface up to a location not reaching the air bearing surface.
3. The thermal-assisted-magnetic-recording head according to claim 1,
wherein the refractive index of the high-refractive-index core is higher than the refractive index of the thin-film-like core, and the width and the thickness of the high-refractive-index core is 0.05 \u03bcm or more and 0.5 \u03bcm or less.
4. The thermal-assisted-magnetic-recording head according to claim 1,
wherein part of an area of the high-refractive-index core near the light source is placed between two thin-film-like cores of the light coupling unit.
5. The thermal-assisted-magnetic-recording head according to claim 1,
wherein the width of the high-refractive-index core gradually becomes smaller as it becomes further from the air bearing surface.
6. The thermal-assisted-magnetic-recording head according to claim 1,
wherein an interval between each thin-film-like core of the light coupling unit and the high-refractive-index core is plus or minus 20% of a value of a half of a half width of the spot size of the light guided through each thin-film-like core, at a location farthest from the air bearing surface of the high-refractive-index core.
7. The thermal-assisted-magnetic-recording head according to claim 1,
wherein the light source is arranged on a surface opposite the air bearing surface, and the light source oscillates in a single mode.
8. The thermal-assisted-magnetic-recording head according to claim 1, further comprising:
a near-field-light generator near the air bearing surface;
wherein the light guided through the high-refractive-index core is directed to the near-field-light generator.
9. The thermal-assisted-magnetic-recording head according to claim 8,
wherein the near-field-light generator is constituted by a triangular metal film or a metal film including a C-shaped or V-shaped opening as seen from the air bearing surface.
10. A magnetic recording system comprising:
a magnetic recording medium;
a medium driving unit configured to drive the magnetic recording medium;
a magnetic head including:
a magnetic main pole configured to generate a recording magnetic field,
a magnetic return pole,
a magnetic reproducing element,
a shield formed around the magnetic reproducing element, and
a light directing unit configured to emit light from a light source as a minute light spot from a location adjacent to the magnetic main pole near an air bearing surface, the light directing unit including:
a light coupling unit configured to guide the light from the light source into a magnetic head; and
a high-refractive-index core configured to couple with the light guided by the light coupling unit; and
a magnetic head driving unit configured to position the magnetic head on the magnetic recording medium;
wherein the light coupling unit comprises a plurality of thin-film-like cores that have higher refractive index than the clad material and that are separated from each other by the clad material; and
wherein the width, the thickness, or the refractive index of a thin-film-like core is selected so that the exudation of the propagating light is larger when the thin-film-like core is farther from the high-refractive-index core.
11. The magnetic recording system according to claim 10,
wherein the thin-film-like core has a width or a thickness configured to allow a mode in which the light propagating along the thin-film-like core significantly exudes from the thin-film-like core, and the thin-film-like core extends from an upper surface of the magnetic head toward the air bearing surface up to a location not reaching the air bearing surface.
12. The magnetic recording system according to claim 10,
wherein the refractive index of the high-refractive-index core is higher than the refractive index of the thin-film-like core, and the width and the thickness of the high-refractive-index core is 0.05 \u03bcm or more and 0.5 \u03bcm or less.
13. The magnetic recording system according to claim 10,
wherein the magnetic head is fixed at a tip portion of a suspension, the light source includes a laser diode and a waveguide, the laser diode is arranged on the suspension or near the magnetic head driving unit, the laser diode is coupled with one end of the waveguide, the other end of the waveguide is arranged on an upper part of the magnetic head, the laser diode oscillates in a single mode, and the waveguide guides the light in the single mode.
14. A thermal-assisted-magnetic-recording head comprising:
a magnetic main pole configured to generate a recording magnetic field;
a magnetic return pole;
a magnetic reproducing element;
a shield formed around the magnetic reproducing element; and
a light directing unit configured to emit light from a light source as a minute light spot from a location adjacent to the magnetic main pole near an air bearing surface, the light directing unit including:
a light coupling unit configured to guide the light from the light source into a magnetic head, and
a high-refractive-index core configured to couple with the light guided by the light coupling unit;
wherein the light coupling unit comprises a plurality of thin-film-like cores that have higher refractive index than the clad material and that are separated from each other by the clad material; and
wherein part of an area of the high-refractive-index core near the light source is placed between two thin-film-like cores of the light coupling unit.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method of fabrication for a neutron detector comprising one or more scintillation detector layers in a modular configuration, the method comprising:
a. mixing 6LiF with a binder medium with a scintillator material;
b. forming one or more active scintillation layers with slots that run lengthwise across each active scintillation layer, each layer having a top piece and a bottom piece that have matching peaks and valleys such that when the peaks and valleys of the two pieces face each other and the two pieces abut each other, grooves are formed at the matching valleys to hold in the grooves one or more fiber optic light media surrounded by scintillator material; and
c. positioning one or more fiber optic light media in the grooves, such that the fiber optic light media are optically coupled with adjacent scintillation material of the one or more active scintillation layers.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
d. tapering at least one end of the fiber optic light media that extends out of the active scintillation layers to guide light to a narrowed section of the fiber optic light media; and
e. positioning the at least one end having the narrowed section adjacent to an optical input of a photo-sensor.
3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:
f. electrically coupling the photo sensor to a pre-amp circuit designed to operate as fast as the decay time of light pulses from the scintillator material when interacting with neutron particles.
4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:
g. electrically connecting an output of the photo sensor to a set of electronics and a digital processing system that are configured to perform:
analog to digital conversion of a sensor signal from the photo sensor; and
digital processing of a digitized representation of the sensor signal for gamma pulse differentiation for elimination or separation of gamma signal interference from neutron pulse detection.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the scintillator material mixed in the binder is comprised of one or more materials selected from the set of: ZnS and ZnS(Ag).
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the binder is a clear binder that allows transmission of light pulses from the scintillator material to the one or more fiber optic light media.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the scintillator material is combined with a binder that is not selected based on a significant hydrogenous content.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the scintillator material is combined with a binder that is selected based on a significant hydrogenous content.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the optically coupled one or more fiber optic light guide media comprise one or more preformed fiber optic cables.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more preformed fiber optic cables are formed with tapered ends that are formed to attach to one or more photo sensors.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more preformed fiber optic cables are formed with tapered ends designed for easy coupling into one or more photo sensors.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the slots are formed to fit the cross-sectional shape of optical fiber selected for the neutron detector, and with locking mechanisms to hold the fiber into the slots.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein the optically coupled one or more fiber optic light guide media comprise one or more preformed fiber optic cables, and wherein the one or more cables are inserted into slots running across the one or more active scintillation layers that lock the fiber optics into place.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein an end portion the one or more fiber optic light guide media are inserted into an optical retainer ring which is connected to a housing holding both the optical retainer ring and a photo sensor.
15. The method of claim 1, wherein an end portion of the one or more fiber optic light guide media are inserted into an optical retainer ring, and wherein the optical retainer ring is designed to seal outside light from coming into contact with an optical input of a photo sensor.
16. The method of claim 1, wherein an end portion of the one or more fiber optic light guide media are inserted into an optical retainer ring, and wherein the optical retainer ring positions ends of optical fiber of the one or more fiber optic light guide media approximately 1 mm or less from a light sensor of an optical input of a photo sensor.
17. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more fiber optic light guide media comprise wavelength shifting optical fibers.
18. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more active scintillation layers comprise granular LiF (95% 6Li) mixed with crystals of ZnS(Ag) in a binder.
19. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more active scintillation layers comprise granular LiF (95% 6Li) mixed with crystals of ZnS(Ag) in a hydrogenous binder.
20. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
applying a light shield to an outer shell of the one or more active scintillation layers to eliminate outside light interference by using an opaque cover.
21. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
d. positioning at least one end of the fiber optic light media, that extends out of the active scintillation layers, adjacent to an optical input of a photo-sensor, and wherein one or more thermistors are deployed at the photo sensor to identify an ambient operating temperature about the photo sensor.
22. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
d. positioning at least one end of the fiber optic light media, that extends out of the active scintillation layers, adjacent to an optical input of a photo-sensor;
e. electrically coupling the photo sensor to a pre-amp circuit designed to operate as fast as the decay time of light pulses from the scintillator material when interacting with neutron particles, and wherein the pre-amp circuit includes a computer readable non-volatile storage device that is configured for storing at least one of the following pieces of information:
a. serial number of the photo sensor;
b. type of photo sensor;
c. version of photo sensor;
d. customer assignment; and
e. installed location.
23. The method of claim 1, further comprising any one or more of the following:
a. A pre-fabricated wavelength shifting optical fiber of a specific length is provided with fiber media segregated for application into each active scintillation layer, the length being the length of a detector area and the additional lengths necessary to taper the fiber bundle to a connection with a photo sensor;
b. The number of fiber optic strands being defined by the width of a detector area to be formed and the concentration of fiber optic strands to be equally spread across the width of the detector area;
c. scintillator material at a defined detector area is comprised of granular LiF (95% 6Li) mixed with crystals of ZnS(Ag) in a binder;
d. detector material is formed into a detector area of a specific width and length, matching a design criteria for the fiber optics, the scintillator material being comprised of granular LiF mixed with crystals of ZnS(Ag) in a binder;
e. fiber optic media is inserted into each active scintillation layer optic fiber slot with an interlocking layer securing the fiber optics in place and providing at least one configuration of the following:
optic coupling of the scintillation material completely surrounding the fiber, and
a locking optical fiber slot and top cover;
f. active scintillation layers being stacked on top of each other to make a multi-layer detector; and
g. a protective covering is applied to the detector to eliminate light intrusion into the detector area.
24. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying moderator material of specific thicknesses between each active scintillation layer to create different and increasing neutron moderation at each active scintillation layer.
25. A method of fabrication of a thermal neutron detector, wherein one or more microwave curing techniques are used to cure a binder comprising a polymer to create a homogenous distribution of encapsulated particles within the binder for the neutron detector.
26. The method of claim 25, wherein a variable frequency microwave technique is used.
27. The method of claim 25, wherein a high frequency microwave beam technique is used.
28. The method of claim 25, wherein the particles comprise Lithium-6 and a scintillator material mixed in polymer.
29. The method of claim 28, wherein the scintillator material mixed in polymer comprises one or more materials selected from the set of: ZnS and ZnS(Ag).