Lead plating method for GMR head manufacture

A process for forming leads to a magnetic read head, comprising:

• providing a spin valve structure having two opposing sloping sides on each of which is a layer of longitudinally biased magnetic material, said biased material and said spin valve having coplanar topmost surfaces on which is a protective layer;
• depositing a layer of a resist sensitive to an electron beam on said protective layer;
• exposing said resist layer to a pattern mapped out by an electron beam whereby, after development, a pedestal of said resist remains midway between said biased layers;
• wet surface cleaning all of said protective layer not covered by said pedestal;
• activating all of said protective layer not covered by said pedestal by immersing said protective layer in an aqueous solution containing between about 1 and 10% weight percent of an acid for up to two minutes;
• then immersing said protective layer in a plating solution and then electroplating onto said protective layer a layer of a metal;
• removing said resist pedestal, thereby forming a pair of leads separated by a gap;
• and
• depositing a capping layer on said pair of leads.