Wide write head with thermal asperity detector and method of using the same

A system for detecting thermal asperities and magnetic defects on a disc. The system includes a wide write head and a certification head. The wide write head includes a thermal asperity detector and a write element. A method for detecting thermal asperities and magnetic defects comprising writing a track with the wide write head, reading defects with the certification head, and scanning for thermal asperities with the thermal asperity detector. A burst pattern can be written to the disc upon locating a asperity of defect.