Data storage device with mapping and mitigation of laser mode hop effects in heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR)

Various illustrative aspects are directed to a data storage device, comprising one or more disks; an actuator mechanism configured to position a selected head among one or more heads proximate to a corresponding disk surface among the one or more disks; and one or more processing devices. The one or more processing devices are configured to generate a map of laser mode hop effects across the corresponding disk surface, for the selected head. The one or more processing devices are further configured to apply a laser mode hop mitigation in operating the selected head, based on the map of laser mode hop effects.