Provided is a thin film magnetic head capable of ensuring the strength of
a perpendicular magnetic field and improving recording performance. A bottom pole
portion layer and a top pole portion layer constituting a part of a main magnetic
pole are formed so that a cross sectional area of a complex including front end
portions of the bottom pole portion layer and the top pole portion layer is smaller
than a cross sectional area of a complex including rear end portions thereof, and
a width of a top edge in an exposed surface is larger than a width of a bottom
edge, and is equal to or larger than a width of the exposed surface in a middle
position between the top edge and the bottom edge. In recording, magnetic fluxes
flowing in a main magnetic pole are focused toward an air bearing surface, and
are concentrated on the front end portion of the top pole portion layer which is
a main emitting portion of the magnetic fluxes, so sufficient magnetic fluxes can
be supplied to the air bearing surface.