Magnetoresistive effect sensor, thin-film magnetic head with the sensor, manufacturing method of magnetoresistive sensor and manufacturing method of thin-film magnetic head
AssigneeTDK Corporation
InventorsTetsuro Sasaki, Koichi Terunuma, Kosuke Tanaka
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Abstract
A MR sensor includes at least one pinned layer, at least one nonmagnetic layer, and a free layer layered with the at least one pinned layer via the at least one nonmagnetic layer. A magnetization direction of the at least one pinned layer is fixed, and a magnetization direction of the free layer is variable depending upon a magnetic field applied to the free layer. A nonmagnetic metal is diffused in at least part of the free layer.
Claims45
A magnetoresistive effect sensor comprising:
- at least one pinned layer, a magnetization direction of said at least one pinned layer being fixed;
- at least one nonmagnetic layer;
- a free layer layered with said at least one pinned layer via said at least one nonmagnetic layer, a magnetization direction of said free layer being variable depending upon a magnetic field applied to said free layer;
- and
- a mutual diffusion layer made of a nonmagnetic metal and provided with a thickness of 0.1 to 0.5 nm, a metallic composition of said free layer being diffused in said mutual diffusion layer,
- a nonmagnetic metal being diffused in at least part of said free layer.
A thin-film magnetic head provided with a magnetoresistive effect sensor, said sensor comprising:
- at least one pinned layer, a magnetization direction of said at least one pinned layer being fixed;
- at least one nonmagnetic layer;
- a free layer layered with said at least one pinned layer via said at least one nonmagnetic layer, a magnetization direction of said free layer being variable depending upon a magnetic field applied to said free layer;
- and
- a mutual diffusion layer made of a nonmagnetic metal and provided with a thickness of 0.1 to 0.5 nm, a metallic composition of said free layer being diffused in said mutual diffusion layer,
- a nonmagnetic metal being diffused in at least part of said free layer.
A magnetoresistive effect sensor comprising:
- at least one pinned layer, a magnetization direction of said at least one pinned layer being fixed;
- at least one nonmagnetic layer;
- a free layer layered with said at least one pinned layer via said at least one nonmagnetic layer, a magnetization direction of said free layer being variable depending upon a magnetic field applied to said free layer;
- and
- a mutual diffusion layer made of a nonmagnetic metal and inserted in the middle of said free layer, a metallic composition of said free layer being diffused in said mutual diffusion layer,
- a nonmagnetic metal being diffused in at least part of said free layer.
A thin-film magnetic head provided with a magnetoresistive effect sensor, said sensor comprising:
- at least one pinned layer, a magnetization direction of said at least one pinned layer being fixed;
- at least one nonmagnetic layer;
- a free layer layered with said at least one pinned layer via said at least one nonmagnetic layer, a magnetization direction of said free layer being variable depending upon a magnetic field applied to said free layer;
- and
- a mutual diffusion layer made of a nonmagnetic metal and inserted in the middle of said free layer, a metallic composition of said free layer being diffused in said mutual diffusion layer,
- a nonmagnetic metal being diffused in at least part of said free layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.