Abstract: Provided are a Mn—Zn—W—O sputtering target having excellent crack resistance and a production method therefor. The Mn—Zn—W—O sputtering target has a chemical composition containing Mn, Zn, W, and O. From an X-ray diffraction pattern of the Mn—Zn—W—O sputtering target, a ratio PMnO/PW of a maximum peak intensity PMnO of a peak due to a manganese oxide composed only of Mn and O to a maximum peak intensity PW of a peak due to W is 0.027 or less.

Abstract: Provided are a Mn—Zn—W—O sputtering target having excellent crack resistance and a production method therefor. The Mn—Zn—W—O sputtering target has a chemical composition containing Mn, Zn, W, and O. From an X-ray diffraction pattern of the Mn—Zn—W—O sputtering target, a ratio PMnO/PW of a maximum peak intensity PMnO of a peak due to a manganese oxide composed only of Mn and O to a maximum peak intensity PW of a peak due to W is 0.027 or less.

Abstract: A magnetic head forms a closed magnetic circuit with a magnetic core and has a gap in the closed magnetic circuit. At least a part of the magnetic core is composed of soft magnetic laminated films made by laminating soft magnetic thin film layers and noble metal layers. The soft magnetic thin film layers are exhibited by a composition formula of FeaSibTacRudGaeNf (where “a”, “b”, “c”, “d”, “e” and “f” in the formula indicate compositions of respective elements by the atomic percent), and ranges of the compositions are: 62 atomic percent<a<75 atomic percent; 7 atomic percent<b<18 atomic percent; 3 atomic percent<c<10 atomic percent; 0 atomic percent≦d<10 atomic percent; 0 atomic percent≦e<6 atomic percent; 5 atomic percent<f<12 atomic percent; and b+c>13 atomic percent. The noble metal layers contain at least a kind of Pt, Au, Ag and Pd.

Abstract: The present invention provides a soft magnetic thin film having a high magnetic permeability and showing a magnetic isotropy which can be obtained without a complicated production procedure, and a magnetic head using this soft magnetic thin film.The soft magnetic thin film has a composition expressed as Fe.sub.a M.sub.b N.sub.c O.sub.d wherein M represents at least one of Ta, Zr, Hf, Nb, and Ti; and a, b, c, and d represent atomic percents which are defined as follows: 71 .ltoreq.a.ltoreq.85; 6.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.15; 9.ltoreq.c.ltoreq.16; and 1.ltoreq.d.ltoreq.3.5.

Abstract: A magnetic head having a laminated magnetic film in which crystal orientation of precipitated small crystal particles can be controlled and the soft magnetic characteristic in the thickness of the laminated magnetic film can easily be controlled. The magnetic head has the laminated magnetic film formed by laminating thin magnetic layers, each having a composition as Fe.sub.x M.sub.y N.sub.z, and metal layers. The laminated magnetic film is subjected to heat treatment so that metal atoms forming the metal layers are diffused into the thin magnetic films. Thus, the laminated magnetic film contains small crystal particles of .alpha.Fe, the direction of crystal of which is controlled by the diffused metal atoms. Therefore, the laminated magnetic film has an excellent soft magnetic characteristic also in the direction of the thickness thereof.

Abstract: A magnetic head is disclosed which has a metal magnetic film formed by first stacking Fe--M--N magnetic thin film layers and precious metal layers such as Pt layers to form a multilayer film and then stacking such multilayer films via an insulating film so that the reproduction output is improved to make the magnetic head suitable for recording on and reproduction from a magnetic recording medium having a large coercive force, such as, a so-called metal tape. On gap forming surfaces of a pair of magnetic core halves, a multilayer structure formed by first forming a multilayer film by stacking magnetic thin film layers having composition of Fe.sub.x M.sub.y N.sub.z (with M being at least one selected from Ta, Zr, Hf, Nb, Ti, Mo and W, and x, y and z indicating atomic percentage and holding relations of 71.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.85, 6.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.15, and 9.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.

Abstract: A magnetic head comprising a pair of magnetic core halves each having a magnetic core film sandwiched between a pair of non-magnetic substrates, said magnetic core halves being abutted to each other with the end faces of the magnetic core films facing each other, with a magnetic gap being defined in an interface of abutment of said magnetic core films, wherein the magnetic core film is of a laminated magnetic film structure comprising a plurality of laminated magnetic film units laminated with insulating films in-between. Each laminated magnetic film unit in turn comprises a plurality of magnetic films with non-magnetic films in-between, with the magnetic films being magnetostatically connected to one another at film ends. By employing the laminated magnetic film unit for the magnetic core film, it becomes possible to markedly increase the magnetic permeability in a direction normal to the gap depth when anisotropy is applied in the gap depth direction.

Abstract: A non-magnetic material for a magnetic head and a magnetic head produced with the use of such material. For improving the head efficiency and resistance against partial abrasion, the guard piece 11 is mainly composed of CaO, TiO.sub.2 and NiO, with the molar mixing ratio CaO/TiO.sub.2 being 30/70 to 50/50 and the NiO content being 5 to 30 mol %. The head efficiency may be improved, while the partial abrasion may be decreased and the service life of magnetic head may be improved sufficiently.