Magneto-resistive reader utilizing read shields to maintain reference layer magnetization

A head for interacting with a magnetic recording medium, the head comprising:

• a first shield;
• a second shield disposed adjacent to the first shield, each of the first shield and the second shield comprising a magnetic material, and a distance between the first shield and the second shield forming a read gap, wherein a magnetization of the first shield and the second shield are substantially parallel with one another, and wherein the distance between the first shield and the second shield is less than 10 nanometers;
• a first spacer layer disposed in the read gap, the first spacer layer comprising a tunnel barrier or a metallic layer;
• a first reference layer disposed in the read gap between the first spacer layer and the first shield;
• a coupling layer disposed between the first shield and the first reference layer, wherein the coupling layer produces a Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida (RKKY) interlayer coupling at an angle of about 90 degrees relative to the magnetization of the first shield;
• a sense layer disposed in the read gap between the first spacer layer and the first reference layer, wherein a sense layer magnetization direction is biased relative to the magnetization of the first shield along a cross-track direction;
• and
• a second spacer layer disposed in the read gap between the sense layer and the first reference layer, wherein the head uses tunnel magnetoresistance, and the second spacer layer comprises a tunnel barrier.