A magnetic recording head includes a main magnetic pole in which a recording magnetic field is generated, a write shield magnetic pole disposed alongside the main magnetic pole with a gap therebetween, a spin torque oscillator disposed within the gap and configured to generate a microwave, an anti-ferromagnetic layer disposed within the gap between the write shield magnetic pole and the spin torque oscillator, and a non-magnetic metal layer disposed within the gap between the spin torque oscillator and the anti-ferromagnetic layer.