Magnetic sensing element including laminated film composed of half-metal and NiFe alloy as free layer

Abstract

A magnetic sensing element exhibiting a large ΔRA is provided, in which a free magnetic layer has a small coercive force Hc and a small magnetostriction constant λs. The free magnetic layer includes a Co2MnZ alloy layer (where Z may represent at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, Sn, In, Sb, Ga, Si, Ge, Pb, and Zn) and a (NiaFe100-a)bX100-b alloy layer (where X may represent at least one element selected from the group consisting of Cu, Au, Ag, Zn, Mn, Al, Cd, Zr, and Hf, a may represent a composition ratio satisfying 80<a≦100, and b may represent a composition ratio satisfying 60<b≦100). Consequently, the magnetostriction constant λs and the coercive force Hc of the free magnetic layer may be decreased and the soft magnetic properties of the free magnetic layer may be improved.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.