Magneto-resistance effect type head and information reproducing apparatus

A magneto-resistance effect type head equipped with a magneto-resistance effect element exhibiting a resistance change in correspondence with an intensity of an external magnetic field, for detecting a value of a resistance of said magneto-resistance effect element to thereby detect said intensity of magnetic field, said magneto-resistance effect element comprised of a multi-layer film containing a free magnetic layer having magnetization direction changing in correspondence with an external magnetic field, said head comprising:

• an insulating layer made of an insulating material;
• a non-magnetic underlying layer formed on said insulating layer;
• one pair of electrodes formed on said underlying layer in an in-face direction thereof with a predetermined spacing therebetween;
• and
• one pair of magnetic domain-wall control layers stacked, in formation, respectively on said pair of electrodes on said underlying layer in an in-face direction thereof with a predetermined spacing therebetween, for controlling movement of a magnetic domain wall of said free magnetic layer,
• wherein said free magnetic layer is formed in such a manner as to have both ends thereof stacked directly on said pair of magnetic domain-wall control layers respectively and to have a middle portion thereof stacked directly on said underlying layer.

An information reproducing apparatus equipped with a magnetic head which is arranged in contact or in near contact with a magnetic recording medium on which information is recorded by magnetization to thereby detect magnetization at each point on said magnetic recording medium, for reproducing information in correspondence with magnetization detected by said magnetic head at each point on said magnetic recording medium, wherein:

• said magnetic head is equipped with a magneto-resistance effect element which is comprised of a multi-layer film containing a free magnetic layer having a magnetization direction changing in correspondence with an external magnetic field and also which exhibits a resistance change in correspondence with an intensity of an external magnetic field, for detecting a value of a resistance of said magneto-resistance effect element to thereby detect said intensity of magnetic field, said magnetic head comprising:
• an insulating layer made of an insulating material;
• a non-magnetic underlying layer formed on said insulating layer;
• and
• one pair of magnetic domain-wall control layers formed on said underlying layer in an in-face direction thereof with a predetermined spacing therebetween, for controlling movement of a magnetic domain wall of said free magnetic layer;
• and
• said free magnetic layer is formed in such a manner as to have both ends thereof stacked directly on said pair of magnetic domain-wall control layers respectively and to have a middle portion thereof stacked directly on said underlying layer.

An information reproducing apparatus equipped with a magnetic head which is arranged in contact or in near contact with a magnetic recording medium on which information is recorded by magnetization to thereby detect magnetization at each point on said magnetic recording medium, for reproducing information in correspondence with magnetization detected by said magnetic head at each point on said magnetic recording medium, wherein:

• said magnetic head is equipped with a magneto-resistance effect element which is comprised of a multi-layer film containing a free magnetic layer having a magnetization direction changing in correspondence with an external magnetic field and also which exhibits a resistance change in correspondence with an intensity of an external magnetic field, for detecting a value of a resistance of said magneto-resistance effect element to thereby detect said intensity of magnetic field, said magnetic head comprising:
• an insulating layer made of an insulating material;
• a non-magnetic underlying layer formed on said insulating layer;
• one pair of electrodes formed on said underlying layer in an in-face direction thereof with a predetermined spacing therebetween, for flowing a current to said magneto-resistance effect element;
• and
• one pair of magnetic domain-wall control layers stacked, in formation, respectively on said pair of electrodes on said underlying layer in an in-face direction thereof with a predetermined spacing therebetween, for controlling movement of a magnetic domain wall of said free magnetic layer;
• and
• said free magnetic layer is formed in such a manner as to have both ends thereof stacked directly on said pair of magnetic domain-wall control layers respectively and to have a middle portion thereof stacked directly on said underlying layer.