Seed layer structure for spin valve sensor

A magnetic head assembly having a read head and a write head comprising:

• the write head including:
• first and second pole piece layers;
• each of the first and second pole piece layers having a yoke portion located between a pole tip portion and a back gap portion;
• a nonmagnetic write gap layer located between the pole tip portions of the first and second pole piece layers;
• an insulation stack with at least one coil layer embedded therein located between the yoke portions of the first and second pole piece layers;
• and
• the first and second pole piece layers being connected at their back gaps portions;
• and
• the read head having a spin valve sensor that includes:
• a ferromagnetic free layer having a magnetic moment that is free to rotate from a first direction in response to a signal field;
• a ferromagnetic pinned layer structure having a magnetic moment;
• a nonmagnetic electrically conductive spacer layer located between the free layer and the pinned layer structure;
• and
• an antiferromagnetic pinning layer exchange coupled to the pinned layer structure for pinning the magnetic moment of the pinned layer structure in a second direction;
• a bilayer seed layer structure having first and second seed layers;
• the first seed layer being a metallic oxide and the second seed layer being a nonmagnetic metal;
• and
• the second seed layer being located between and interfacing each of the first seed layer and the pinning layer;
• the read head further including:
• first and second hard bias and lead layers connected to first and second side edges of the spin valve sensor;
• nonmagnetic electrically insulative first and second read gap layers;
• the bilayer seed layer structure, the spin valve sensor and the first and second hard bias and lead layers being located between the first and second read gap layers;
• a ferromagnetic first shield layer;
• and
• the first and second read gap layers being located between the first shield layer and the first pole piece layer.

A magnetic disk drive having at least one slider that has an air bearing surface (ABS), the slider supporting at least one magnetic head assembly that includes a read head and a write head, the disk drive comprising:

• the write head including:
• first and second pole piece layers;
• each of the first and second pole piece layers having a yoke portion located between a pole tip portion and a back gap portion;
• a nonmagnetic write gap layer located between the pole tip portions of the first and second pole piece layers;
• an insulation stack with at least one coil layer embedded therein located between the yoke portions of the first and second pole piece layers;
• and
• the first and second pole piece layers being connected at their back gap portions;
• and
• the read head having a spin valve sensor that includes:
• a ferromagnetic free layer having a magnetic moment that is free to rotate from a first direction in response to a signal field;
• a ferromagnetic pinned layer structure having a magnetic moment;
• a nonmagnetic electrically conductive spacer layer located between the free layer and the pinned layer structure;
• and
• an antiferromagnetic pinning layer exchange coupled to the pinned layer structure for pinning the magnetic moment of the pinned layer structure in a second direction;
• a bilayer seed layer structure having first and second seed layers;
• the first seed layer being a metallic oxide and the second seed layer being a nonmagnetic metal;
• and
• the second seed layer being located between and interfacing each of the first seed layer and the pinning layer;
• the read head further including:
• first and second hard bias and lead layers connected to first and second side edges of the spin valve sensor;
• nonmagnetic electrically insulative first and second read gap layers;
• the bilayer seed layer structure, the spin valve sensor and the first and second hard bias and lead layers being located between the first and second read gap layers;
• a ferromagnetic first shield layer;
• and
• the first and second read gap layers being located between the first shield layer and the first pole piece layer;
• and
• a housing;
• a magnetic disk rotatably supported in the housing;
• a support mounted in the housing for supporting the magnetic head assembly with the ABS facing the magnetic disk so that the magnetic head assembly is in a transducing relationship with the magnetic disk;
• means for rotating the magnetic disk;
• positioning means connected to the support for moving the magnetic head assembly to multiple positions with respect to said magnetic disk;
• and
• processing means connected to the magnetic head assembly, to the means for rotating the magnetic disk and to the positioning means for exchanging signals with the magnetic head assembly, for controlling rotation of the magnetic disk and for controlling the position of the magnetic head assembly.

A method of making a magnetic read head that includes a spin valve sensor comprising the steps of:

• forming a metallic oxide first seed layer;:
• forming a nonmagnetic metallic second seed layer on the first seed layer;
• and
• forming an antiferromagnetic pinning layer of said spin valve sensor on the second seed layer with the second seed layer being located between and interfacing each of the first seed layer and the pinning layer.

A method of making a magnetic head assembly having a read head and a write head, wherein the read head includes a spin valve sensor, comprising:

• making the read head as follows:
• forming a ferromagnetic first shield layer;
• forming a nonmagnetic electrically insulative first read gap layer on the first shield layer;
• forming a metallic oxide first seed layer on the first read gap layer;
• forming a nonmagnetic metallic second seed layer on the first seed layer;
• and
• forming an antiferromagnetic pinning layer of said spin valve sensor on the second seed layer with the second seed layer located between and interfacing each of the first seed layer and the pinning layer;
• connecting first and second hard bias and lead layers to first and second side edges of the spin valve sensor;
• forming a nonmagnetic electrically insulative second read gap layer on the spin valve sensor and the first and second hard bias and lead layers;
• forming the write head as follows:
• forming a ferromagnetic first pole piece layer on the second read gap layer that has a yoke region located between a pole tip region and a back gap region;
• forming an insulation stack with at least one coil layer embedded therein on the first pole piece layer in the yoke region;
• forming a nonmagnetic electrically insulative write gap layer on the first pole piece layer in the pole tip region;
• and
• forming a ferromagnetic second pole piece layer on the write gap layer, the insulation stack and connected to the first pole piece layer in the back gap region.