Magnetic head, magnetic head assembly, and magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus

A magnetic head assembly comprising:

• a magnetic head, including:
• a reproducing section having a medium facing surface facing a magnetic recording medium, the reproducing section being configured to detect a direction of magnetization being recorded in the magnetic recording medium,
• the reproducing section including:
• a first magnetic pinned layer, a direction of magnetization of the first magnetic pinned layer being pinned,
• a second magnetic pinned layer stacked with the first magnetic pinned layer in a first direction parallel to the medium facing surface, a direction of magnetization of the second magnetic pinned layer being pinned, and
• a magnetic free layer provided between the first magnetic pinned layer and the second magnetic pinned layer, a direction of magnetization of the magnetic free layer being changeable,
• a length of the magnetic free layer along a second direction perpendicular to the medium facing surface being shorter than a length of the first magnetic pinned layer along the second direction and shorter than a length of the second pinned layer along the second direction;
• a suspension installing the magnetic head on one end of the suspension;
• and
• an actuator arm connected to one other end of the suspension.

A magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus comprising:

• a magnetic head assembly, including:
• a magnetic head, including:
• a reproducing section having a medium facing surface facing a magnetic recording medium, the reproducing section being configured to detect a direction of magnetization being recorded in the magnetic recording medium,
• the reproducing section including:
• a first magnetic pinned layer, a direction of magnetization of the first magnetic pinned layer being pinned,
• a second magnetic pinned layer stacked with the first magnetic pinned layer in a first direction parallel to the medium facing surface, a direction of magnetization of the second magnetic pinned layer being pinned, and
• a magnetic free layer provided between the first magnetic pinned layer and the second magnetic pinned layer, a direction of magnetization of the magnetic free layer being changeable,
• a length of the magnetic free layer along a second direction perpendicular to the medium facing surface being shorter than a length of the first magnetic pinned layer along the second direction and shorter than a length of the second pinned layer along the second direction;
• a suspension installing the magnetic head on one end of the suspension;
• and
• an actuator arm connected to one other end of the suspension;
• and
• the magnetic recording medium having information to be reproduced by using the magnetic head installed on the magnetic head assembly.