Thin film magnetic head comprising shield layer having stabilized magnetic domain structure

A thin film magnetic head comprising a magnetoresistive element layer, and shield layers formed to hold the magnetoresistive element layer therebetween, wherein each of the shield layers comprises a multilayered structure in which a plurality of magnetic layers are laminated with nonmagnetic intermediate layers held therebetween, the total absolute value of magnetic moments of the alternate magnetic layers of the plurality of magnetic layers, which are formed with the nonmagnetic intermediate layers held therebetween, is set to the same value as that of the remaining magnetic layers, and the opposite magnetic layers with the nonmagnetic intermediate layers held therebetween are magnetized in an antiparallel state in the direction of the track width, and

• wherein each of the magnetic layers is made of a Fe—M—C alloy, wherein element M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, Si, P, C, W, B, Al, Ga, Ge, and the rare earth elements.

A thin film magnetic head comprising a magnetoresistive element layer, and shield layers formed to hold the magnetoresistive element layer therebetween, wherein each of the shield layers comprises a multilayered structure in which a plurality of magnetic layers are laminated with nonmagnetic intermediate layers held therebetween, the total absolute value of magnetic moments of the alternate magnetic layers of the plurality of magnetic layers, which are formed with the nonmagnetic intermediate layers held therebetween, is set to the same value as that of the remaining magnetic layers, and the opposite magnetic layers with the nonmagnetic intermediate layers held therebetween are magnetized in an antiparallel state in the direction of the track width, and

• wherein each of the magnetic layers comprises a soft magnetic film having an amorphous structure containing Co as a main component.

A thin film magnetic head comprising a lower shield layer, a magnetoresistive element layer formed on the lower shield layer, an upper shield layer formed on the magnetoresistive element layer and having both a shield function and a core function, an upper core layer formed opposite to the upper shield layer with a magnetic gap held therebetween on the side opposite to a recording medium, and a coil layer for applying a magnetic field to the upper shield layer and the upper core layer, wherein the upper shield layer comprises two layers laminated with a nonmagnetic intermediate layer held therebetween, the upper magnetic layer of the two magnetic layers has higher saturated magnetization Ms than that of the lower magnetic layer, and a smaller thickness than that of the lower magnetic layer, the magnetic moment of the upper magnetic layer is set to the same value as the lower magnetic layer, and the two magnetic layers are magnetized in an antiparallel state in the direction of the track width, and

• wherein the anisotropic energy E of the lower magnetic layer which constitutes the upper shield layer is 1000 to 6000 erg/cm3.

A thin film magnetic head comprising a lower shield layer, a magnetoresistive element layer formed on the lower shield layer, an upper shield layer formed on the magnetoresistive element layer and having both a shield function and a core function, an upper core layer formed opposite to the upper shield layer with a magnetic gap held therebetween on the side opposite to a recording medium, and a coil layer for applying a magnetic field to the upper shield layer and the upper core layer, wherein the upper shield layer comprises two layers laminated with a nonmagnetic intermediate layer held therebetween, the upper magnetic layer of the two magnetic layers has higher saturated magnetization Ms than that of the lower magnetic layer, and a smaller thickness than that of the lower magnetic layer, the magnetic moment of the upper magnetic layer is set to the same value as the lower magnetic layer, and the two magnetic layers are magnetized in an antiparallel state in the direction of the track width, and

• wherein each of the magnetic layers which constitute the upper shield layer is made of a Fe—M—C alloy, wherein element M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, Si, P, C, W, B, Al, Ga, Ge, and the rare earth elements.

A thin film magnetic head comprising a lower shield layer, a magnetoresistive element layer formed on the lower shield layer, an upper shield layer formed on the magnetoresistive element layer and having both a shield function and a core function, an upper core layer formed opposite to the upper shield layer with a magnetic gap held therebetween on the side opposite to a recording medium, and a coil layer for applying a magnetic field to the upper shield layer and the upper core layer, wherein the upper shield layer comprises two layers laminated with a nonmagnetic intermediate layer held therebetween, the upper magnetic layer of the two magnetic layers has higher saturated magnetization Ms than that of the lower magnetic layer, and a smaller thickness than that of the lower magnetic layer, the magnetic moment of the upper magnetic layer is set to the same value as the lower magnetic layer, and the two magnetic layers are magnetized in an antiparallel state in the direction of the track width, and

• wherein each of the magnetic layers which constitute the upper shield layer comprises a soft magnetic film having an amorphous structure containing Co as a main component.