Spin value read head stabilized without hard bias layers

A magnetic head assembly having a write head and a read head and an air bearing surface (ABS) comprising:

• the read head having a sensor region that extends along the ABS, the sensor region being located between first and second side regions which extend laterally from the sensor region, the read head comprising:
• a spin valve sensor having first and second side edges which are spaced apart by
• a width that defines said sensor region;
• the spin valve sensor including:
• a ferromagnetic pinned layer and a ferromagnetic free layer;
• and
• a nonmagnetic conductive spacer layer located between the pinned layer and the free layer;
• and
• ferromagnetic first and second biasing layers located in the first and second side regions respectively and magnetically coupled to the first and second side edges respectively of the spin valve sensor;
• a first antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer having first and second portions located in the first and second side regions respectively and a third portion located in said sensor region;
• the first and second portions of the first AFM layer being exchange coupled to the first and second biasing layers respectively;
• each of the first and second portions of the first AFM layer having magnetic spins that are oriented parallel to the ABS and said track width;
• the pinned layer being exchange coupled to the third portion of the first AFM layer;
• and
• the third portion of the first AFM layer having magnetic spins that are oriented perpendicular to the ABS;
• the write head including:
• first and second pole piece layers and a write gap layer;
• the first and second pole piece layers being separated by the write gap layer at the ABS and connected at a back gap that is recessed rearwardly in the head from the ABS;
• an insulation stack having at least first and second insulation layers;
• at least one coil layer embedded in the insulation stack;
• and
• the insulation stack and the at least one coil layer being located between the first and second pole piece layers.

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

• the read head having a sensor region that extends along the ABS, the sensor region being located between first and second side regions which extend laterally from the sensor region;
• the read head including a spin valve sensor having first and second side edges that are spaced apart by a width that defines said sensor region;
• the spin valve sensor including a ferromagnetic pinned layer, a ferromagnetic free layer;
• and a nonmagnetic electrically conductive spacer layer located between the pinned layer and the free layer;
• ferromagnetic first and second biasing layers located in the first and second side regions respectively and magnetically coupled to the first and second side edges respectively of the spin valve sensor;
• a first antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer having first and second portions located in the first and second side regions respectively and a third portion located in said sensor region;
• the first and second portions of the first AFM layer being exchange coupled to the first and second biasing layers respectively;
• each of the first and second portions of the first AFM layer having magnetic spins that are oriented parallel to the ABS and transverse to said first and second side edges;
• the pinned layer being exchange coupled to the third portion of the first AFM layer;
• and
• the third portion of the first AFM layer having magnetic spins that are oriented perpendicular to the ABS;
• the write head including:
• first and second pole piece layers and a write gap layer;
• the first and second pole piece layers being separated by the write gap layer at the ABS and connected at a back gap that is recessed rearwardly in the head from the ABS;
• an insulation stack having at least first and second insulation layers;
• at least one coil layer embedded in the insulation stack;
• and
• the insulation stack and the at least one coil layer being located between the first and second pole piece layers;
• and
• a housing;
• a magnetic disk rotatably supported in the housing;
• a support mounted in the housing for supporting the magnetic head assembly with said 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 to multiple positions with respect to said magnetic disk;
• and
• processing means connected to the magnetic head, to the means for rotating the magnetic disk and to the positioning means for exchanging signals with the magnetic head, for controlling movement of the magnetic disk and for controlling the position of the magnetic head.