Magnetic recording sensor with sputtered antiferromagnetic coupling trilayer between plated ferromagnetic shields

A magnetic recording sensor for use in a data storage device, comprising:

• a read sensor stack comprising:
• a read sensor;
• a first end opposing a second end;
• and
• a third end opposing a fourth end;
• a magnetic shield comprising a first soft ferromagnetic layer, a second soft ferromagnetic layer, a third soft ferromagnetic layer, and a first antiferromagnetic coupling (AFC) trilayer between the first soft ferromagnetic layer and the second soft ferromagnetic layer, wherein the first AFC trilayer comprises:
• a first AFC layer comprising ferromagnetic material;
• a second AFC layer comprising a nonmagnetic antiferromagnetic exchange material;
• and
• a third AFC layer comprising ferromagnetic material;
• a second AFC trilayer;
• and
• a bottom shield disposed on the side of the fourth end of the read sensor stack, wherein the second AFC trilayer location is at least one of:
• between the first and third soft ferromagnetic layers of the magnetic shield;
• or within the bottom shield;
• wherein the second soft ferromagnetic layer surrounds a portion of the first and second ends of the read sensor stack,
• wherein the first AFC trilayer surrounds a portion of the first and second ends of the read sensor stack;
• and
• wherein the read sensor stack is separated from the first and second soft ferromagnetic layers by a nonmagnetic gap.