Exchange coupling film, magnetic detecting element using the exchange coupling film, and method of making same
AssigneeAlps Electric Co., Ltd.
InventorsKazuaki Ikarashi, Naoya Hasegawa
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Abstract
Each of an antiferromagnetic layer and a pinned magnetic layer has a region containing a Cr element, thereby increasing an exchange coupling magnetic field (Hex) produced between the antiferromagnetic layer and the pinned magnetic layer. Therefore, the exchange coupling magnetic field produced between the antiferromagnetic layer and the pinned magnetic layer can be increased, and a coupling magnetic field due to RKKY interaction can also be increased, thereby increasing a one-directional exchange bias magnetic field (Hex*) in the pinned magnetic layer as compared with a conventional exchange coupling film.
Claims12
An exchange coupling film comprising:
- a laminate of an antiferromagnetic layer and a ferromagnetic layer, the antiferromagnetic layer containing a Cr element with a concentration gradient in the thickness direction,
- wherein the ferromagnetic layer has a magnetization direction fixed by an exchange coupling magnetic field (HEX) produced at the interface between the antiferromagnetic layer and the ferromagnetic layer, and
- wherein the antiferromagnetic layer comprises an alloy of a plurality of elements and the Cr element, and the atomic ratio (at %) of each of the plurality of elements of the alloy composition is constant relative to that of each other of the plurality of elements when the atomic ratio (at %) of Cr changes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.