Exchange coupling film, magnetic detecting element using the exchange coupling film, and method of making same
AssigneeAlps Electric Co., Ltd.
InventorsKazuaki Ikarashi, Naoya Hasegawa
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Abstract
Each of an antiferromagnetic layer and a pinned magnetic layer has a region containing a Cr element, thereby increasing an exchange coupling magnetic field (Hex) produced between the antiferromagnetic layer and the pinned magnetic layer. Therefore, the exchange coupling magnetic field produced between the antiferromagnetic layer and the pinned magnetic layer can be increased, and a coupling magnetic field due to RKKY interaction can also be increased, thereby increasing a one-directional exchange bias magnetic field (Hex*) in the pinned magnetic layer as compared with a conventional exchange coupling film.
Claims50
An exchange coupling film comprising;
- a laminate of an antiferromagnetic layer and a ferromagnetic layer, the antiferromagnetic layer containing a Cr element with a concentration gradient in the thickness direction, and
- wherein the ferromagnetic layer has a magnetization direction fixed by an exchange coupling magnetic field (HEX) produced at the interface between the antiferromagnetic layer and the ferromagnetic layer.
An exchange coupling film comprising:
- a laminate of an antiferromagnetic layer and a ferromagnetic layer, each of the antiferromagnetic layer and the ferromagnetic layer containing a Cr element with a concentration gradient in the thickness direction;
- and
- wherein the ferromagnetic layer has a magnetization direction fixed by an exchange coupling magnetic field (HEX) produced at the interface between the antiferromagnetic layer and the ferromagnetic layer.
An exchange coupling film comprising:
- a laminate of an antiferromagnetic layer and a ferromagnetic layer, the ferromagnetic layer containing a Cr element with a concentration gradient in the thickness direction;
- and
- wherein the ferromagnetic layer has a magnetization direction fixed by an exchange coupling magnetic field (HEX) produced at the interface between the antiferromagnetic layer and the ferromagnetic layer.
A method of producing an exchange coupling film, the method comprising:
- laminating an antiferromagnetic layer and a ferromagnetic layer, the antiferromagnetic layer containing a Cr element;
- and
- performing a heat treatment to produce an exchange coupling magnetic field (HEX) at the interface between the antiferromagnetic layer and the ferromagnetic layer, the exchange coupling film having a Cr element with a concentration gradient in the thickness direction.
A method of producing an exchange coupling film, the method comprising:
- laminating an antiferromagnetic layer and a ferromagnetic layer, each of the antiferromagnetic layer and the ferromagnetic layer containing a Cr element;
- and
- performing a heat treatment to produce an exchange coupling magnetic field (HEX) at the interface between the antiferromagnetic layer and the ferromagnetic layer, the exchange coupling film having a Cr element with a concentration gradient in the thickness direction.
A method of producing an exchange coupling film, the method comprising:
- laminating an antiferromagnetic layer and a ferromagnetic layer, the ferromagnetic layer containing a Cr element;
- and
- performing a heat treatment to produce an exchange coupling magnetic field (HEX) at the interface between the antiferromagnetic layer and the ferromagnetic layer, the exchange coupling film having a Cr element with a concentration gradient in the thickness direction.
A method of producing an exchange coupling film, the method comprising:
- laminating an antiferromagnetic layer and a ferromagnetic layer with a Cr element layer provided therebetween;
- and
- performing a heat treatment to produce an exchange coupling magnetic field (HEX) between the antiferromagnetic layer and the ferromagnetic layer, the exchange coupling film having a Cr element concentration reaching a maximum at the interface between the antiferromagnetic layer and the ferromagnetic layer, and gradually decreasing in the direction away from the interface.
A method of producing an exchange coupling film, the method comprising:
- laminating a first antiferromagnetic layer and a second antiferromagnetic layer with a Cr element layer provided therebetween;
- forming a ferromagnetic layer juxtapositionally in contact with the first or second antiferromagnetic layer;
- and
- performing a heat treatment to produce an exchange coupling magnetic field (HEX) between the first or second antiferromagnetic layer and the ferromagnetic layer, the exchange coupling film having a Cr element concentration reaching a maximum in a predetermined region at a distance from the interface within the antiferromagnetic layer, and gradually decreasing in the direction away from the predetermined region.
A method of producing an exchange coupling film, the method comprising:
- laminating an antiferromagnetic layer composed of an antiferromagnetic layer and a Cr-containing antiferromagnetic layer;
- forming a ferromagnetic layer juxtapositionally in contact with the Cr-containing layer;
- and
- performing a heat treatment to produce an exchange coupling magnetic field (HEX) between the antiferromagnetic layer and the ferromagnetic layer, the exchange coupling film having a constant Cr element concentration in a predetermined region of the antiferromagnetic layer near the interface between the antiferromagnetic layer and the ferromagnetic layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.