Recessed AFM stitch interface engineering

A method of forming a read sensor comprising:

• forming a bottom stack over a bottom shield, wherein the bottom stack includes an antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer, a lower ferromagnetic stitch layer above the AFM layer and a sacrificial cap layer on the lower ferromagnetic stitch layer, and wherein the bottom stack includes a front portion and a recessed portion behind the front portion;
• performing a material removal operation to remove the front portion of the bottom stack, thereby leaving behind the recessed portion of the bottom stack, a front trench and the bottom shield below the recessed portion of the bottom stack and below the front trench;
• depositing a reader front shield in the front trench;
• and
• depositing a decoupling layer on the reader front shield, wherein the decoupling layer abuts the sacrificial cap layer, and wherein the sacrificial cap layer comprises a first material that is different from a second material from which the decoupling layer is formed.

A read sensor structure comprising:

• a bottom stack that is recessed from a bearing surface of the read sensor, wherein the bottom stack comprises a recessed antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer, a ferromagnetic stitch layer over the recessed AFM layer, a first pinned layer on the AFM layer, a spacer layer between the first pinned layer and the ferromagnetic stitch layer, wherein the first pinned layer and the ferromagnetic stitch layer are antiferromagnetically coupled;
• a reader front shield positioned in front of the bottom stack, wherein a front surface of the reader front shield forms a portion of the bearing surface;
• a non-Ru sacrificial cap layer on the ferromagnetic stitch layer;
• and
• a decoupling layer on the reader front shield, wherein the decoupling layer abuts the sacrificial cap layer, and wherein the sacrificial cap layer comprises a first material that is different from a second material from which the decoupling layer is formed.