Thermally-assisted magnetic recording head having symmetric optical side shields

An optically shielded TAMR (thermally assisted magnetic recording) write head has a metal waveguide blocker formed against a distal end of a waveguide and a pair of symmetrically disposed optical side shields formed to either side of a plasmon generator formed above the waveguide. The waveguide focuses optical radiation on the adjacent plasmon generator where it excites plasmon modes that heat the recording medium with near-field energy and the waveguide blocker prevents excess optical radiation from blurring the spot on the recording region. The optical side shields further restrict loosely coupled optical radiation from reaching the recording region and blurring the optical spot and improves down-track and cross-track thermal gradients.