Abstract: A tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) read sensor having a tabbed AFM layer and an extended pinned layer and methods for making the same are provided. The TMR read sensor has an AFM layer recessed from the air bearing surface, providing a reduced shield-to-shield distance.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for making ultra-narrow track width (TW) read sensors, and read transducers incorporating such sensors. The methods utilize side-wall line patterning techniques to prepare ultra-narrow mill masks that can be used to prepare the ultra-narrow read sensors.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a thickness of a soft bias layer in a tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) reader are provided. One such method involves providing a magnetoresistive sensor stack including a free layer and a bottom shield layer, performing contiguous junction milling on the sensor stack, depositing an insulating layer on the sensor stack, depositing a spacer layer on the insulating layer, performing an angled milling sub-process to remove preselected portions of the spacer layer, depositing a soft bias layer on the sensor stack, and depositing a top shield layer on the sensor stack and the soft bias layer. The method can further involve adjusting an alignment of a top surface of the spacer layer with respect to the free layer. In one such case, the top surface of the spacer layer is adjust to be below the free layer.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for making ultra-narrow track width (TW) read sensors, and read transducers incorporating such sensors. The methods utilize side-wall line patterning techniques to prepare ultra-narrow mill masks that can be used to prepare the ultra-narrow read sensors.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a thickness of a soft bias layer in a tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) reader are provided. One such method involves providing a magnetoresistive sensor stack including a free layer and a bottom shield layer, performing contiguous junction milling on the sensor stack, depositing an insulating layer on the sensor stack, depositing a spacer layer on the insulating layer, performing an angled milling sub-process to remove preselected portions of the spacer layer, depositing a soft bias layer on the sensor stack, and depositing a top shield layer on the sensor stack and the soft bias layer. The method can further involve adjusting an alignment of a top surface of the spacer layer with respect to the free layer. In one such case, the top surface of the spacer layer is adjusted to be below the free layer.

Abstract: A tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) read sensor having a tabbed AFM layer and an extended pinned layer and methods for making the same are provided. The TMR read sensor has an AFM layer recessed from the air bearing surface, providing a reduced shield-to-shield distance.

Abstract: A tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) read sensor having a tabbed AFM layer and an extended pinned layer and methods for making the same are provided. The TMR read sensor has an AFM layer recessed from the air bearing surface, providing a reduced shield-to-shield distance.

Abstract: A method and system provide a magnetic transducer having an air-bearing surface (ABS). The magnetic transducer includes a first shield, a read sensor, at least one soft magnetic bias structure and at least one hard bias structure. The read sensor includes a sensor layer that has at least one edge in the track width direction along the ABS. The soft magnetic bias structure(s) are adjacent to the edge(s) of the sensor layer. The soft magnetic bias structure has a first permeability. The soft bias structure(s) are between the read sensor and the hard bias structure(s). The hard bias structure(s) are adjacent to a portion of the soft bias structure(s) and have a second permeability. The first permeability is at least ten multiplied by the second permeability.

Abstract: A tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) read sensor having a tabbed AFM layer and an extended pinned layer and methods for making the same are provided. The TMR read sensor has an AFM layer recessed from the air bearing surface, providing a reduced shield-to-shield distance.

Abstract: A method and system provide a magnetic transducer having an air-bearing surface (ABS). The magnetic transducer includes a first shield, a read sensor, at least one soft magnetic bias structure and at least one hard bias structure. The read sensor includes a sensor layer that has at least one edge in the track width direction along the ABS. The soft magnetic bias structure(s) are adjacent to the edge(s) of the sensor layer. The soft magnetic bias structure has a first permeability. The soft bias structure(s) are between the read sensor and the hard bias structure(s). The hard bias structure(s) are adjacent to a portion of the soft bias structure(s) and have a second permeability. The first permeability is at least ten multiplied by the second permeability.

Abstract: A magnetic read transducer is described with a magnetoresistive sensor that has a free layer, and an antiferromagnetically-coupled (AFC) soft bias layer for magnetically biasing the free layer. The free layer has a first edge in a track width direction along an air-bearing surface (ABS). At least a portion of the AFC soft bias layer is conformal to at least a portion of a second edge of the free layer, and situated to form a magnetic moment at an angle with respect to a center line of the free layer. The center line of the free layer extends in the same direction as the free layer first edge that is in the track width direction along the ABS.

Abstract: A read sensor for a transducer is fabricated. The transducer has a field region and a sensor region corresponding to the sensor. A sensor stack is deposited. A hybrid mask including hard and field masks is provided. The hard mask includes a sensor portion covering the sensor region and a field portion covering the field region. The field mask covers the field portion of the hard mask. The field mask exposes the sensor portion of the hard mask and part of the sensor stack between the sensor and field regions. The sensor is defined from the sensor stack in a track width direction. Hard bias layer(s) are deposited. Part of the hard bias layer(s) resides on the field mask. Part of the hard bias layer(s) adjoining the sensor region is sealed. The field mask is lifted off. The transducer is planarized.

Abstract: A method for providing a hard bias structure is provided. The method comprises providing a seed layer for a hard bias layer, the seed layer having a seed layer lattice constant and a natural growth texture. The method further comprises depositing the hard bias layer for the hard bias structure on the seed layer, the natural growth texture corresponding to a texture for the hard bias layer. The hard bias layer has a bulk lattice constant. The step of providing the seed layer includes forming a first plasma of a first deposition gas configured to expand the seed layer lattice constant if the bulk lattice constant is greater than the seed layer constant. The step of depositing the hard bias layer includes forming a second plasma of a second deposition gas configured to expand the bulk lattice constant if the seed layer lattice constant is greater than the bulk lattice constant.

Abstract: A method and system for fabricating a magnetic transducer is described. A magnetic junction is defined from the magnetoresistive stack. The magnetic junction has a top and a plurality of sides. The step of defining the magnetic junction redeposits a portion of the magnetoresistive stack and forms fencing adjacent to the top of the magnetic junction. At least one hard bias structure is provided after the magnetic junction is defined. A first portion of the at least one hard bias structure is substantially adjacent to the magnetoresistive junction in a track-width direction. The magnetic junction is ion beam planarized, thereby substantially removing the fencing.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a hard bias structure include providing a seed layer for a hard bias structure. The seed layer has a lattice constant and a natural growth texture. The method and system further include depositing the hard bias layer for the hard bias structure on the seed layer. The natural growth texture of the seed layer corresponds to a texture for the hard bias layer. The hard bias layer has a bulk lattice constant. Providing the seed layer includes forming a first plasma of a first deposition gas configured to expand the seed layer lattice constant if the bulk lattice constant is greater than the seed layer constant. Depositing the hard bias layer further includes forming a second plasma of a second deposition gas configured to expand the bulk lattice constant if the seed layer lattice constant is greater than the bulk lattice constant.