Read head free layer having front and rear portions biased at different levels

A method of forming a reader comprising:

• providing a bearing surface;
• forming a bottom shield having a front portion that is nearest to the bearing surface and a rear portion that is farthest from the bearing surface;
• forming a top shield substantially parallel to the bottom shield, the top shield having a front portion that is nearest to the bearing surface and a rear portion that is farthest from the bearing surface, wherein a separation distance between the front portion of the top shield and the front portion of the bottom shield corresponds to a separation distance between the rear portion of the top shield and the rear portion of the bottom shield;
• forming a free layer;
• and
• forming a free layer biasing structure that includes at least one side shield comprising a soft magnetic material and in contact with the top shield at both the front portion of the top shield and the rear portion of the top shield, the at least one side shield is capable of applying a first bias field level to a front portion of the free layer that is nearest to the bearing surface and capable of applying a second bias field level, which is greater than the first bias field level, to a rear portion of the free layer that is farthest from the bearing surface.

A reader comprising:

• a bearing surface;
• a free layer having a front portion nearest to the bearing surface and a rear portion farthest from the bearing surface;
• and
• a magnetic noise reduction element configured to restrict noise generation of a material of the free layer at the rear portion of the free layer,
• wherein the magnetic noise reduction element comprises at least one of:
• at least one side shield configured to apply a first bias field level to a front portion of the free layer that is nearest to the bearing surface and configured to apply a second bias field level to a rear portion of the free layer that is farthest from the bearing surface, wherein the second bias field level is greater than the first bias field level;
• or
• a modified free layer portion configured to substantially reduce a magnetic moment of the rear portion of the free layer relative to a magnetic moment of the front portion of the free layer.