Spin valve sensor for high areal density applications

A magnetoresistive (MR) sensor comprising:

• a bottom shield having a width, a thickness, and a height;
• a nonmagnetic metallic pedestal positioned on a portion of the bottom shield, the nonmagnetic metallic pedestal having a width less than the width of the bottom shield;
• a bottom reader gap positioned on the nonmagnetic metallic pedestal and on the bottom shield such that a portion of the bottom reader gap over the nonmagnetic metallic pedestal is raised relative to portions of the bottom reader gap over the bottom shield;
• a biasing element positioned on the bottom reader gap;
• a magnetoresistive stack positioned on the bottom reader gap and on the biasing element;
• current leads positioned adjacent the magnetoresistive stack;
• a top reader gap positioned on the magnetoresistive stack;
• and
• a top shield positioned over the top reader gap.

A process for fabricating a magnetoresistive (MR) sensor comprising:

• fabricating a bottom shield;
• fabricating a nonmagnetic metallic pedestal on a portion of the bottom shield;
• fabricating a bottom reader gap layer on the nonmagnetic metallic pedestal and on the bottom shield such that a slope is formed in the bottom reader gap layer between the nonmagnetic metallic pedestal and the bottom shield;
• fabricating a biasing element on the bottom reader gap layer adjacent the slope;
• fabricating a magnetoresistive stack on the bottom reader gap;
• fabricating a top reader gap layer on the magnetoresistive stack;
• and
• fabricating a top shield over the top reader gap layer.