Abstract: One general embodiment of the present invention is a magnetic read head including a magnetoresistive sensor where sense current flows in a stacking direction of the magnetoresistive sensor, i.e., perpendicular to the plane of the layers of the head. The magnetoresistive sensor comprises a free layer having a magnetization direction that is affected by external magnetic fields and includes a Heusler alloy layer and a Co-based amorphous metal layer, a fixed layer which is stacked with the free layer and has a fixed magnetization direction, and a non-magnetic intermediate layer between the free layer and the fixed layer.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 18, 2009
Date of Patent:
November 22, 2011
Assignee:
Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
Inventors:
Koji Sakamoto, Koichi Nishioka, Katsuya Mitsuoka, Katsumi Hoshino, Yo Sato