Spin valve element, hard disk head, and magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus

A spin valve element comprising:

• a nonmagnetic base layer;
• a first terminal including a first magnetic layer, in which a direction of magnetization is switchable, the first terminal connecting to a portion near one of opposing end faces of the nonmagnetic base layer in a direction along which the nonmagnetic base layer extends;
• a second terminal including a second magnetic layer, in which a direction of magnetization is pinned, the second terminal being disposed and connecting to the nonmagnetic base layer so as to be at a distance from the first terminal along the direction in which the nonmagnetic base layer extends;
• a third terminal including a third magnetic layer, in which a direction of magnetization is pinned to be antiparallel to the direction of magnetization of the second magnetic layer, the third terminal being disposed and connecting to the nonmagnetic base layer so as to be at distances from the first terminal and the second terminal along the direction in which the nonmagnetic base layer extends,
• the second terminal and the third terminal connecting to a current source that passes a sense current, and
• the first terminal and one of the second terminal and the third terminal connecting to a voltage detection unit that detects a voltage.