the preferred embodiment of the present invention teaches a method of providing dfh control for a magnetic read / write head by utilizing a heater element design that provides two symmetrically disposed , off - track heat sources that are symmetrically positioned relative to the track center in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to a track center line . referring to fig3 a , there is shown an overhead view ( in a horizontal cross - section ) of one example of the two source heater element of the present invention . a vertical dashed line ( 5 ) schematically indicates the track center line about which the two laterally separated sources ( 77 ) are symmetrically placed along a substantially perpendicular direction to the track center line . a horizontal dashed line indicates the abs plane ( 100 ). the two sources ( 77 ) extend substantially towards the abs plane and , by their extension , partially surround the read head element ( 30 ) which is below the sources and not in contact with the sources . the heating element is formed in a substantially horizontal plane over the upper read shield ( 40 ) of the head and is ultimately embedded within an insulating layer within the read / write head ( shown as ( 60 ) in fig2 )) over which the inductive write coils of the write head are formed . fig2 shows the arrangement more clearly in a vertical cross - section . electrically conducting layers ( 22 ) are symmetrically disposed over the shield and terminate in connecting tabs ( 33 ) that would allow connections to the current source of the pre - amplifier ( not shown ). these layers , when connected to the current source , provide the current to activate the heater element . the two identical , laterally separated and symmetrically disposed heat sources ( 77 ) are formed of material having a high resistivity and high coefficient of thermal expansion ( for maximum protrusion of head elements at the abs plane ) and are electrically connected at each of the pair of corresponding ends ( 75 ) by a low resistivity element ( 66 ) whose length provides the necessary lateral separation and spacing between the sources . the other pair of ends of the heating sources are connected ( 79 ) to the conducting layers ( 22 ). although the read head cannot be seen from this view because it is below the shield ( 40 ), it is schematically indicated ( 30 ) to provide an indication of its location relative to the heat sources . the write head pole tip is above the heater element and is not seen . note that fig3 b is identical in all respects to fig3 a except that the two heat sources ( 77 ) are laterally separated by a greater distance by using a longer conducting element ( 68 ). in general , the heating sources will not be separated by more than approximately 100 microns , to fit within the typical width of the upper shield . a finite element simulation provides an accurate indication of the performance of the heater element under operating conditions of the hdd . in the present simulated embodiment the dfh design uses heater sources that are separated by approximately 15 microns ( see ( 66 ) in fig3 a ). the write element is designed as a pmr ( perpendicular magnetic recording ) head with a double coil layer , although this is for exemplary purposes only . the materials and layer dimensions of the model are representative of the industry . the simulated touchdown condition of the model head is met when the simulated dhf power is sufficient to have any part of the head abs reaching the static flying height limit , assuming a perfectly smooth disk surface . the simulation results are shown at a steady - state condition when thermal and magnetic equilibrium are reached . referring to fig5 there is shown the track center dfh actuation profiles for a simulated 100 mw heater activation and two separation distances between the two heater elements , 15 microns and 30 microns . also shown for comparison purposes is the actuation profile for a single source prior art type heater element . the profile is taken from the head substrate , the abscissa origin , to the head overcoat , 18 microns on the abscissa . the ordinate , calibrated in nanometers ( nm ), measures protrusion . as can be seen in the graphic representation , both of the present invention two heat source elements show greater actuation efficiency at both the wg and rg than the prior art element , with the 15 micron separated element showing greater efficiency than the 30 micron separated element . the general shape of the profile is quite similar for both elements of the present invention , showing that there is less protrusion in the rg region than the wg region , indicating protection of the sensitive read element and , thereby , robust reliability . further , because the greater protrusion at the wg position is not sufficient to cause the rg to recede too much from the minimal clearance point , better performance associated with a smaller rg spacing at hdd operation is assured . referring next to fig6 a and 6 b , there are shown the cross - track actuation profiles for each of the two elements of the present invention , the element with 15 micron spacing in fig5 a and that with 30 micron spacing in fig5 b . in each of the two graphic representations , the actuation profile is generated across four positions , the upper read shield , ( denoted on the graph as s 2 b ) the read gap ( rg ), the write gap ( wg ) and the write shield ( denoted ws 1 ). the graph ordinates indicate the off track range , from 50 microns off track (− 0 . 05 on the ordinate ) to the track center . the ordinate indicates protrusion in nanometers . both fig6 a and fig6 b show the appearance of a plateau as the curves bend towards the horizontal as the track center is approached . indeed , in fig5 b the profile actually bends down below the horizontal , indicating that the center track position is recessed relative to the outer off - track positions . the plateau is also broader in fig6 b than in fig6 a . this is an indication that there is a wider contact area in case of touchdown during calibration and hdd operation , thus greatly reducing the contact stress at the track center &# 39 ; s main pole ( mp ) area . also , depending on the backend ptr profile , the 30 micron spaced heater element can provide outright off - track contact while still shielding the delicate reader and mp in a preferred recessed position . we can also conclude that further optimization of the separation distance between the two heat sources can improve the on - track activation efficiency and off - track contact capability so that both enhanced performance and improved hdi reliability can be achieved . as is understood by a person skilled in the art , the preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrative of the present invention rather than being limiting of the present invention . revisions and modifications may be made to methods , processes , materials , structures , and dimensions through which is formed a dfh controlled read / write head using a two heat source heating element , while still providing such a read / write head , formed in accord with the present invention as defined by the appended claims .