Self-biased dual spin valve sensor

A magnetic storage system, comprising:

• a magnetic storage medium for recording data;
• a dual spin valve (DSV) sensor having first and second end regions separated from each other by a central region, said DSV sensor comprising:
• a DSV element in said central region, said DSV element including:
• a free layer, said free layer having:
• first and second ferromagnetic sublayers;
• and
• an antiparallel spacer disposed between said first and second ferromagnetic sublayers;
• a first pinned layer having a first magnetic moment;
• a second pinned layer having a second magnetic moment;
• a first non-magnetic spacer layer disposed between said free layer and said first pinned layer;
• and
• a second non-magnetic spacer layer disposed between said free layer and said second pinned layer, said free layer being disposed between said first spacer layer and said second spacer layer;
• first and second longitudinal bias layers formed in said first and second end regions, respectively, for longitudinally biasing said free layer, said first and second longitudinal bias layers forming a contiguous junction with said DSV element;
• and
• first and second DSV leads disposed over said first and second longitudinal bias layers, respectively, for applying sense current to said DSV element for pinning the magnetization of said first and second pinned layers;
• and
• a recording channel coupled to said DSV sensor for detecting resistance changes in said DSV element responsive to applied magnetic fields representative of data recorded in said magnetic storage medium.