Multi-sensor reader structure having a current path with increased size to reduce noise

A magnetic head, comprising:

• a lower magnetic shield layer positioned at a media-facing surface of the head;
• a pinned layer positioned above the lower magnetic shield layer at the media-facing surface of the head;
• at least two magnetoresistive (MR) elements positioned above the pinned layer and separated from one another in a cross-track direction by an inner layer, each MR element extending in an element height direction away from the media-facing surface of the head by a first length;
• bias layers positioned on outside edges of the MR elements and the pinned layer, each bias layer extending in the element height direction away from the media-facing surface of the head by a second length;
• and
• current paths positioned above and in electrical communication with the bias layers on either side of the inner layer, each current path extending in the element height direction away from the media-facing surface of the head by a third length,
• wherein the third length is at least three times the first length.

A method for forming a multi-sensor magnetic head, the method comprising:

• forming a lower magnetic shield layer at a media-facing surface of the head;
• forming a pinned layer above the lower magnetic shield layer at the media-facing surface of the head;
• forming at least two magnetoresistive (MR) elements above the pinned layer and separated from one another in a cross-track direction by an inner layer, each MR element extending in an element height direction away from a media-facing surface of the head by a first length;
• forming bias layers on outside edges of the MR elements and the pinned layer, each bias layer extending in the element height direction away from the media-facing surface of the head by a second length;
• and
• forming current paths above and in electrical communication with the bias layers on either side of the inner layer, each current path extending in the element height direction away from the media-facing surface of the head by a third length,
• wherein the at least two MR elements are positioned at a media-facing surface of the head, and
• wherein the third length is greater than the first length to reduce an electrical resistance of the current paths.