JP2009217911A - Perpendicular magnetic head and perpendicular magnetic storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress pole erase by the structure of a simple magnetic storage head without requiring microfabrication in a perpendicular magnetic head and a perpendicular magnetic storage device. <P>SOLUTION: The central position of the first read element in a plurality of read elements is shifted from the central position center of a write element by approximately a half of a track width, and also shifted from the central positions of the other read elements in the plurality of read elements. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a perpendicular magnetic head and a perpendicular magnetic storage device, and more particularly to a configuration for suppressing erase (pole erase) due to residual magnetization of a main pole after recording.

  In recent years, magnetic storage devices have been used as recording means for various types of information equipment. In order to meet such demands for high-density recording for magnetic recording, perpendicular magnetic recording heads were used as magnetic recording heads. Perpendicular magnetic storage devices have been developed.

In a conventional perpendicular magnetic storage device, since the magnetization direction of the main magnetic pole is kept uniform after recording, even when no recording operation is performed, for example, the magnetic recording head moves on the track during reproduction. In addition, erasure occurs due to the residual magnetization of the main magnetic pole.
For this reason, it has been a problem to suppress pole erase during reproduction.

  In addition, the pole erase is more serious due to the residual magnetization of the main pole because the influence of the exchange coupling force increases due to the narrow core width of the recording head as the density increases, and the magnetization becomes uniform and cheap. It is expected to become.

Accordingly, various proposals have been made to suppress such pole erasure (for example, see Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2).
For example, a method has been proposed in which a demagnetizing current is passed through a write coil after recording to demagnetize the magnetization of the main pole.

Alternatively, a method has been proposed in which the main magnetic pole of the magnetic recording head has a multilayer structure so that the magnetization is antiparallel by magnetostatic or antiferromagnetic coupling between the magnetic layers.
Furthermore, it has also been proposed to suppress pole erase by considering the shape of the main pole.
JP 2007-311013 A JP 2007-265562 A

  However, in the case of a method of demagnetizing the main magnetic pole by applying a demagnetizing current to the write coil after recording, there is a problem that extra operation is required for demagnetization and power consumption increases. In the case of a portable information device that is driven by this, the effect becomes large.

In addition, in the case of the suppression method using the main pole having a multilayer structure, there is a problem that the manufacturing process increases and the manufacturing cost increases.
Furthermore, if only the shape of the main pole is taken into account, it is difficult to obtain a sufficient pole erase suppression effect when the recording bit is miniaturized and the storage density is increased.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to suppress pole erasure by a simple configuration of a magnetic recording head that does not require fine processing.

  According to an aspect of the present invention, the center position of the first read element among the plurality of read elements is arranged so as to be shifted by approximately half the track width from the center position of the write element, and A perpendicular magnetic head is provided that is offset from the center position of the other read elements.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a perpendicular magnetic storage device equipped with the above-described perpendicular magnetic head and a magnetic storage medium.

  According to the disclosed perpendicular magnetic recording head and perpendicular magnetic storage device, it is possible to suppress pole erasure without requiring a microfabrication technique simply by displacing a plurality of read elements with respect to a write element. .

  At this time, the center position of the first read element is shifted from the center position of the write element by approximately half of the track width, specifically, 1/2 ± 5%, so that the write element is reproduced or seeked. Can be positioned on the guard band.

  In particular, when a patterned medium is used as the magnetic storage medium, a wide guard band between tracks can be obtained, so that pole erasure can be effectively suppressed.

Here, with reference to FIG.1 and FIG.2, embodiment of this invention is described.
FIG. 1 is a conceptual configuration diagram of a magnetic recording head according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is shown in relation to a magnetic storage medium. FIG. 1A shows a case where a skew angle during reproduction is 0 °. FIG. 1B is a write-read layout diagram, and FIG. 1B is a write-read layout diagram when the skew angle during reproduction is 15 °.
In FIG. 1B, the portion of the magnetic storage medium is simplified so that the relationship between W ₂ and θ can be easily understood.

As shown in FIG. 1A, this composite type thin film magnetic head is composed of one write element 10 and a plurality of read elements. Here, the case of two read elements 21 and 22 is shown.
As shown in the figure, the read element 22 is sandwiched between the lower magnetic shield layer 23 and the intermediate magnetic shield layer 24, and the other read element 21 includes the intermediate magnetic shield layer 24, the upper magnetic shield layer 25, and the like. The structure is sandwiched between the two.
Each magnetic shield layer also serves as an electrode for passing a sense current to the read elements 21 and 22, and the intermediate magnetic shield layer 24 may be electrically separated into two layers.
Further, the write element 10 includes a return yoke 11 on the side opposite to the read element 21.

In this case, when the skew angle is 0 °, the read element 21 is provided at a position where the center line is shifted from the center line of the write element 10 so that W ₁ is substantially half the track width Tw. As a result, when the write element 21 is positioned on the track 32 _{1 including} the recording bits 31 provided on the magnetic storage medium 30 during reproduction, the write element 10 is positioned on the guard band 33.
In consideration of manufacturing variations in the manufacturing process of the read element 21 and the write element, an arrangement variation of about ± 5% is allowed.

On the other hand, the other read element 22 is provided at a position shifted by W ₂ on the side opposite to the read element 21 with respect to the center line of the write element 10.
At this time, as shown in FIG. 1B, when the maximum skew angle is θ, it is necessary to shift so that the center line of the read element 22 is located on the same track 32 ₁ .

Here, if the distance between the write element 10 and the read element 22 is L (= L ₁ + L ₂ ), W ₂ is
W ₂ = L ₂ × tan θ = (L−L ₁ ) × tan θ
It becomes.
L ₁ = (T _w / 2) / sin θ
So
W ₂ = L × tan θ− (T _w / 2) / cos θ (1)
It becomes.
Therefore, when the maximum skew angle is designed to be 15 °, the center line of the read element 22 is shifted from the center line of the write element 10 by W ₂ = {Ltan15 ° − (T _w / 2) / cos15 °}. Then, reproduction at the center position of the read element 22 can be performed.

During reproduction, a mechanism is provided to control the center of the write element so that it is always located at the center of the guard band 33 even if the skew angle fluctuates with the track position on the magnetic storage medium.
Considering the off-track margin in this case, an error of about ± 5% is allowed when the center line of the read element 21 is shifted from the center line of the write element 10 by ½ of the track width Tw.

  When the skew angle θ is small, reproduction is performed by the read element 21, and when the skew angle is large, reproduction is performed by the read element 22.

In addition, when the maximum skew angle is set to 15 °, the deviation W ₂ of the write element 22 is set to θ = 11 °, for example, so that the read element 21 has a skew angle range of 0 ° to 7.5 °. May be switched so that the read element 22 reproduces the skew angle range of 7.5 ° to 15 °.
At this time, switching between the read element 21 and the read element 22 is performed according to the position of the track to be reproduced because the skew angle is determined by the position of the track to be reproduced.

Next, the correspondence when the skew angle is negative will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 2 is a conceptual configuration diagram of a magnetic recording head in which three read elements are provided, and is shown in relation to a magnetic storage medium. FIG. 2A shows a skew angle of 0 ° during reproduction. FIG. 2B is a write-read layout diagram when the skew angle during reproduction is −15 °.
In FIG. 2B, the portion of the magnetic storage medium is shown in a simplified manner so that the relationship between W ₃ and φ can be easily understood.

As shown in FIG. 2A, as in the case of FIG. 1, when the skew angle is 0 °, the read element 21 has a center line whose track width Tw is 1 with respect to the center line of the write element 10. / 2 Provided at a shifted position. As a result, when the write element 21 is positioned on the track 32 _{1 including} the recording bits 31 provided on the magnetic storage medium 30 during reproduction, the write element 10 is positioned on the guard band 33.
The positional relationship between the read element 21 and the read element 22 is the same as in the case of FIG. The third read element 26 is provided so as to be sandwiched between the lowermost magnetic shield layer 27 and the lower magnetic shield layer 23.

On the other hand, the third read element 26 is provided so as to be sandwiched between the lowermost magnetic shield layer 27 and the lower magnetic shield layer 23, and on the same side as the read element 21 with respect to the center line of the write element 10. Provided at a position shifted by W ₃ .
At this time, as shown in FIG. 2B, when the maximum skew angle on the negative side is φ, it is necessary to shift so that the center line of the third read element 26 is positioned on the same track 32 ₁ .

Here, if the distance between the write element 10 and the read element 22 is L, W ₃ is
W ₃ = L × tan φ + (T _w / 2) / cos φ (2)
It becomes.
Accordingly, when designing the maximum skew angle on the negative side to be 15 °, the center line of the third read element 26 is set to W ₃ = L × tan 15 ° + (T _w / 2) / from the center line of the write element 10. If the position is shifted by cos 15 °, reproduction at the center position of the third read element 26 can be performed.

Further, when the maximum skew angle on the negative side is set to −15 °, the skew angle 0 ° to −7 is set at the read element 21 by setting the shift amount W ₃ of the write element 26 to, for example, φ = 11 °. It may be switched so that the range of .5 ° is reproduced and the read element 26 reproduces the range of the skew angle of −7.5 ° to −15 °.

Based on the above, the perpendicular storage composite type thin film magnetic head according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
In addition, illustration is abbreviate | omitted about the plating base layer in an electrolytic plating process.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the perpendicular storage composite type thin film magnetic head according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 (a) is a schematic front view of the essential part, and FIG. 3 (b) is a front view. It is a schematic sectional drawing along the dashed-dotted line which connects AA 'in a figure.
First, a lower magnetic shield layer 41 is provided on an Al ₂ O ₃ —TiC substrate serving as a slider base via an Al ₂ O ₃ film (both not shown), and a TMR film is formed on the lower magnetic shield layer 41. 43 and a magnetic domain control film 44 is provided on the side surface of the TMR film 43 via an Al ₂ O ₃ film (not shown) to form the second offset read element 42.

In this case, the offset amount W ₂ of the second offset read element 42 with respect to the main magnetic pole tip that constitutes the write element is, as described above, the distance from the main magnetic pole tip that constitutes the write element to be described later being L, When the skew angle is 15 °, for example, θ = 11 ° is set, and W ₂ = {Ltan11 ° − (T _w / 2) / cos11 °}.
The TMR film 43 has a structure in which, for example, a Ta film / antiferromagnetic layer / pinned layer / tunnel insulating film / free layer are sequentially laminated, and the magnetic domain control film 44 is made of CoCrPt or the like.

Next, the second offset read element 42 processed into a predetermined shape is filled with an Al ₂ O ₃ film 45 and planarized, and then a first intermediate magnetic shield layer 46 that becomes the upper electrode of the TMR film 43 is provided.

Next, a second intermediate magnetic shield layer 48 is provided on the first intermediate magnetic shield layer 46 via an insulating isolation Al ₂ O ₃ film 47.
Next, a TMR film 50 is provided on the second intermediate magnetic shield layer 48, and a magnetic domain control film 51 is provided on the side surface of the TMR film 50 via an Al ₂ O ₃ film (not shown) to provide a first offset read element 49. Form.

The offset amount W ₁ to the main magnetic pole tip portion constituting a write element of the first offset read element 49 in this case, as described above, set to a half of the track width T _w of the magnetic storage medium to be used.
In addition, the TMR film 50 has a structure in which, for example, a Ta film / antiferromagnetic layer / pinned layer / tunnel insulating film / free layer are sequentially laminated, and the magnetic domain control film 51 is made of CoCrPt or the like.

Next, the first offset read element 49 processed into a predetermined shape is filled with an Al ₂ O ₃ film 52 and planarized, and then an upper magnetic shield layer 53 is provided.
The upper magnetic shield layer 53 becomes an upper electrode of the TMR film 50, and the second intermediate magnetic shield layer 48 becomes a lower electrode of the TMR film 50.

Next, after an Al ₂ O ₃ film 54 is provided on the entire surface of the upper magnetic shield layer 53, a thickness of 1 to ₃ μm, for example, 1.0 μm, is formed on the Al ₂ O ₃ film 54 using a selective electrolytic plating method. A main magnetic pole auxiliary layer 55 made of NiFe is provided.

Next, after depositing an Al ₂ O ₃ film on the entire surface using a sputtering method, planarization is performed using CMP to bury the recess on the head medium facing surface side with an Al ₂ O ₃ buried layer 56.
Next, a CoNiFe layer 57 serving as a main magnetic pole having a thickness of 200 to 300 nm, for example, 250 nm, is formed on the entire surface by selective electroplating.

Next, the tip portions of the CoNiFe layer 57 and the Al ₂ O ₃ buried layer 56 are selectively removed by performing ion milling using Ar ions from the inclined direction using a resist pattern (not shown) as a mask. Forms an inverted trapezoidal main pole tip 58.

Next, an Al ₂ O ₃ film is again deposited on the entire surface by sputtering, and then planarized by CMP, thereby forming an Al ₂ O ₃ buried layer 59. Next, an Al ₂ O ₃ film having a thickness of, for example, 10 to 100 nm, for example, 60 nm is deposited by sputtering to form the gap layer 60.

  Next, Cu is selectively formed on the gap layer 60 by using a selective electrolytic plating method to form a planar spiral write coil 61, and then a photoresist is provided so as to cover the write coil 61. Is a coating insulating film 62.

Next, the NiFe layer is deposited again using the selective electrolytic plating method, and the NiFe layer deposited on the coating insulating film 62 is used as the return yoke 63, and the NiFe layer deposited on the side surface of the coating insulating film 62 on the head medium facing surface side. Is a trailing shield 64.
The write coil 61 is wound around a connection portion 65 that magnetically connects the main magnetic pole and the return yoke 63.

Finally, after covering the entire surface with an Al ₂ O ₃ film (not shown), the head medium facing surface side is cut, and the ABS surface is polished so as to adjust the element height. Thus, the basic structure of one perpendicular storage composite thin film magnetic head can be obtained.

  As described above, in the perpendicular storage composite thin film magnetic head according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the two read elements having different offset directions are provided, so that the write element is always positioned on the guard band during reproduction or seeking. Recording and reproduction with respect to the track can be performed in the state of being made.

Next, with reference to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, a bit patterned medium mounted in the perpendicular magnetic storage device according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
Note that each process is performed on both sides of the substrate, but only the configuration on one side will be described here for the sake of simplicity.

First, as shown in FIG. 4A, for example, a backing layer 72 made of a soft magnetic material such as NiFe is formed on a glass substrate 71, and then a magnetic layer having a thickness of, for example, 5 nm is formed on the backing layer 72. Layer 73 is deposited.
In this case, the magnetic layer 73 includes two or more elements of Fe, Pt, Co, and Pd, and is formed of, for example, a Co / Pd artificial lattice magnetic layer.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4B, a pattern of a metal mask 74 made of, for example, Ta and having a thickness of, for example, 1 to 10 nm is manufactured by the nanoimprint technique.
The metal mask is manufactured by stacking a metal mask and a resist in this order, and pressing a stamper to transfer the pattern to the resist. Thereafter, the pattern is transferred to the metal mask by etching, and finally the resist is removed.
The size of the metal mask 74 in this case corresponds to the size of the recording bit, and is, for example, the entire surface of the medium and the pitch is 10 to 50 nm.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4C, Ar, O, N, for example, Ar ions 75 are ion-implanted with a dose of 1 × 10 ¹⁵ to 1 × 10 ¹⁷ cm ^{−2 using} the metal mask 74 as a mask. As a result, the implantation region is amorphized to form the nonmagnetic region 76.
At this time, the area that remains as a magnetic material becomes dot-shaped recording bits 77.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4D, after removing the metal mask 74, a pattern of the metal mask 78 made of, for example, Ta and having a thickness of, for example, 1 to 10 nm is manufactured by the nanoimprint technique.
In this case, the metal mask 78 has an opening 79 corresponding to the position of the recording bit 77 and having a size smaller than the size of the recording bit 77.
In this case, the size of the opening 79 is set so that the frame size of the high coercive force region is 20% to 40% of the smaller size of the length and width of the recording bit 77.
Therefore, the size of the low coercive force region is 36% (= 0.6 × 0.6) to 4% (= 0.2 × 0.2) with respect to the size of the recording bit 77.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4E, Ar, O, N, for example, Ar ions 80 are ion-implanted using the metal mask 78 as a mask, so that the implantation region is set to a low coercive force region 81.
In this case, the dose is set so that the coercive force of the low coercive force region 81 is reduced to 80 to 90% of the coercive force of the high coercive force region 82 with the original coercive force.

This is based on the premise that an ECC (Exchange Coupled Composite) medium that requires a small reversal magnetic field is used as a material constituting the dot-shaped recording bit 77.
Therefore, the amount corresponding to the decrease in the reversal magnetic field is produced by making the inside of the dot-like magnetic bit 76 have different coercive forces.

Next, as shown in FIG. 5, by removing the metal mask 78, the basic structure of the bit patterned medium is completed. Although it is desirable to use a metal mask as a manufacturing process of the bit patterned medium, it is possible to use only a resist without using a metal mask.
5A is a schematic cross-sectional view of the main part, and FIG. 5B is a schematic plan view of the main part. A row of recording bits 77 constitutes the track 83, and the space between the tracks 83 is shown. The nonmagnetic region 76 becomes the guard band 84.
Thereafter, if necessary, a protective film such as a DLC (diamond-like carbon) film is provided, and then a perfluorocarbon-based lubricant is applied to complete the bit patterned medium.

Since the pole erase can be suppressed by using the bit patterned medium of the present invention, the coercive force of the medium can be set low.
That is, as the structure of the bit patterned medium, the peripheral part of the bit close to the guard band may be covered with the tip of the main pole of the write element, so that the coercive force remains high, and the central part generates pole erase. Therefore, the low coercive force region is set to a low coercive force. As a result, a merit of facilitating bit writing can be obtained.

Next, a perpendicular magnetic storage device according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 6. This magnetic disk device is a composite thin film magnetic head for perpendicular storage according to the first embodiment described above and the second embodiment. It is equipped with a Batando medium.
FIG. 6 is a plan view of the magnetic disk device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The magnetic disk device 90 is attached to the rotating shaft of the spindle motor 91 and fixed by the disk clamp ring 92 described above. The magnetic disk 93 made of the patterned medium described in 1) and the composite thin-film magnetic head for perpendicular storage described in the first embodiment, which reads the magnetic information written on the magnetic disk 93 and writes the magnetic information on the magnetic disk 93, are provided. A slider 94, a fine movement arm 95 attached to the tip of the slider 94, a pair of piezoelectric actuators (not shown) for driving the fine movement arm 95, a fine movement arm 95 is supported by swinging with a shaft 96, and a chassis 97 of the magnetic disk device 90. Base arm 98 supported rotatably on the base arm 98 It constituted by an electromagnetic actuator 99 that.

  Although the embodiments and examples of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the configurations and conditions described in the embodiments and examples, and various modifications can be made. For example, in the third embodiment, it is assumed that the bit patterned medium described in the second embodiment is mounted. However, the present invention is not limited to the bit patterned medium. For example, tracks are separated as patterns. Discrete media may be used.

Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to bit patterned media and discrete media, but can be applied to ordinary continuous media. In this case as well, the center of the write element is always guarded during playback or seeking. What is necessary is just to control so that it may be located on a band.
However, in the continuous medium, since the guard band width is narrow, even if the recording head is retracted on the guard band at the time of reproduction, the area where the main magnetic pole remains on the data is large, so the effect is smaller than that of the patterned medium. ,It is valid.

  When the skew angle is negative, the third read element is used in the case of FIG. 1B. However, when the negative skew angle is small, the third read element is not provided. You may make it respond | correspond by a 1st read element (21).

  In the case of a DFH (Dynamic Flying Height) head that controls the flying height of the slider by heating the heater, the DFH heater is turned off when the write element crosses the track except during recording and reproduction. By doing so, it is possible to increase the flying height of the head and suppress pole erasure when the write head crosses the track.

  Further, when three offset read elements are arranged, the first offset read element serving as a reference for shifting the position by 1/2 of the track width with respect to the write element is arranged on the side close to the main magnetic pole. The intermediate or lower offset read element may be used as a reference.

The following additional notes are disclosed regarding the embodiment of the present invention including Examples 1 to 3 described above.
(Supplementary Note 1) A perpendicular magnetic head including a plurality of read elements, wherein the center position of the first read element of the plurality of read elements is shifted from the center position of the write element by approximately half the track width. And a perpendicular magnetic head arranged to be shifted from the center position of the other read elements of the plurality of read elements.
(Supplementary Note 2) The number of the read elements is three, and the displacement direction of the second read element of the three read elements with respect to the first read element is the third of the three read elements. The perpendicular magnetic head according to appendix 1, wherein the read element is opposite to the direction of displacement of the first read element.
(Additional remark 3) The perpendicular magnetic storage device which mounts the perpendicular magnetic head and magnetic storage medium of Additional remark 1 or 2.
(Supplementary note 4) The perpendicular magnetic storage device according to supplementary note 3, comprising a control mechanism for controlling the center position of the write element constituting the perpendicular magnetic head so as to be positioned on a guard band of the magnetic storage medium during recording and reproduction.
(Supplementary note 5) The magnetic storage device according to supplementary note 3 or 4, wherein a patterned medium is used as the magnetic storage medium.
(Supplementary note 6) The perpendicular magnetic storage device according to supplementary note 5, wherein the patterned medium has a lower coercive force at a center portion of a dot-shaped recording portion surrounded by a non-magnetic region than at a peripheral portion of the dot-shaped recording portion.
(Supplementary note 7) The perpendicular magnetic storage device according to supplementary note 6, wherein the coercive force of the central portion of the dot-shaped recording portion is reduced by 10 to 20% from the coercive force of the peripheral portion of the dot-shaped recording portion.

1 is a conceptual configuration diagram of a magnetic recording head according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a conceptual block diagram of a magnetic recording head when three read elements are provided. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a configuration explanatory diagram of a perpendicular storage composite thin film magnetic head according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing of the manufacturing process to the middle of the bit patterned medium mounted in the perpendicular magnetic memory | storage device of Example 2 of this invention. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the manufacturing process after FIG. 4 of the bit patterned medium mounted on the perpendicular magnetic storage device of Example 2 of the invention. It is a top view of the magnetic disk apparatus of Example 3 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10 Write element 11 Return yoke 21, 22 Read element 23 Lower magnetic shield layer 24 Intermediate magnetic shield layer 25 Upper magnetic shield layer 26 Third read element 27 Bottom magnetic shield layer 30 Magnetic storage medium 31 Recording bits 32 _1, 32 ₂ Track 33 Guard band 41 Lower magnetic shield layer 42 Second offset read element 43 TMR film 44 Magnetic domain control film 45 Al ₂ O ₃ film 46 First intermediate magnetic shield layer 47 Al ₂ O ₃ film 48 Second intermediate magnetic shield layer 49 1 Offset read element 50 TMR film 51 Magnetic domain control film 52 Al ₂ O ₃ film 53 Upper magnetic shield layer 54 Al ₂ O ₃ film 55 Main magnetic pole auxiliary layer 56 Al ₂ O ₃ buried layer 57 CoNiFe layer 58 Main magnetic pole tip 59 Al ₂ O ₃ buried layer 60 Gap layer 61 Write coil 62 Cover insulating film 63 Return yoke 64 Trailing shield 65 Connection portion 71 Glass substrate 72 Backing layer 73 Magnetic layer 74 Metal mask 75 Ar ion 76 Nonmagnetic region 77 Recording bit 78 Metal mask 79 Opening 80 Ar ion 81 Low coercive force region 82 High coercive force region 83 Track 84 Guard band 90 Magnetic disk device 91 Spindle motor 92 Disk clamp ring 93 Magnetic disk 94 Slider 95 Fine movement arm 96 Shaft 97 Chassis 98 Base arm 99 Electromagnetic actuator

Claims (5)

A perpendicular magnetic head comprising a plurality of read elements, wherein the center position of the first read element of the plurality of read elements is arranged so as to be shifted substantially half the track width from the center position of the write element, and A perpendicular magnetic head arranged with a shift from the center position of other read elements of the plurality of read elements. The number of the read elements is three, and the displacement direction of the second read element of the three read elements with respect to the first read element is that of the third read element of the three read elements. The perpendicular magnetic head according to claim 1, wherein the perpendicular magnetic head is on a side opposite to a displacement direction with respect to the first read element. A perpendicular magnetic storage device comprising the perpendicular magnetic head according to claim 1 and a magnetic storage medium. 4. The perpendicular magnetic storage device according to claim 3, further comprising a control mechanism for controlling the center position of the write element constituting the perpendicular magnetic head to be positioned on a guard band of the magnetic storage medium during recording and reproduction. The magnetic storage device according to claim 3, wherein a patterned medium is used as the magnetic storage medium.

Images