Method of producing exchange coupling film and method of producing magnetoresistive sensor by using exchange coupling film

A method of producing an exchange coupling film comprising an antiferromagnetic layer, a ferromagnetic layer, contacting said antiferromagnetic layer at an interface therebetween, and a seed layer comprising a (111) plane of face-centered cubic crystal, which seed layer contacts said antiferromagnetic layer at an interface therebetween on a side opposite said ferromagnetic layer, said method comprising:

• forming said seed layer such that said (111) plane of face-centered cubic crystal is preferentially oriented in a direction parallel to said interface between said seed layer and said antiferromagnetic layer, while creating a non-aligned state at at least a part of said interface between said antiferromagnetic layer and said seed layer;
• wherein said antiferromagnetic layer and said ferromagnetic layer have different lattice constants at at least a part of said interface therebetween;
• and
• effecting a heat-treatment after said forming, so as to develop an exchange coupling magnetic field at said interface between said antiferromagnetic layer and said ferromagnetic layer.