Magneto-resistive element

A magneto-resistive element, comprising:

• an intermediate layer;
• and
• a pair of magnetic layers sandwiching the intermediate layer;
• wherein one of the magnetic layers is a pinned magnetic layer in which magnetization rotation with respect to an external magnetic field is more difficult than in the other magnetic layer;
• wherein the pinned magnetic layer is a multilayer film comprising at least one non-magnetic layer and magnetic layers sandwiching the non-magnetic layer;
• wherein a thickness d of the non-magnetic layer is in the range of 0.3 nm<d<2.6 nm;
• wherein the pinned magnetic layer is in contact with a primer layer or an antiferromagnetic layer;
• and
• wherein an element area, which is defined by the area of the intermediate layer through which current flows perpendicular to the film plane, is not larger than 1000 μm2.