Abstract: By forming a rearmost second coil piece so as to have a larger width in the track-width direction and a larger area than those of coil pieces, heat generated in a thin-film magnetic head can be effectively released to the rearmost coil piece. Thus, a temperature rise in the thin-film magnetic recording head can be further reduced than is possible today, thereby preventing the thin-film magnetic head from protrusion due to its thermal expansion.

Abstract: A lower shield layer is formed by being embedded in a first recess formed in an under layer. Accordingly, the distance between the lower shield layer and a slider can be reduced. Also, a second metal layer is formed from above a gap layer covering an electrode extracting layer over above the under layer hindwards therefrom. Accordingly, the second metal layer can be brought closer to the slider side than an upper shield layer. Consequently, the thermal dissipation effects of the thin-film magnetic head can be improved.

Abstract: In a thin film magnetic head, a face surface faces a recording medium and a front surface of an upper core layer is a curved surface which gradually retreats in a height direction generally perpendicular to the face surface as it approaches both sides thereof, and the thickness of the upper core layer gradually increases in the height direction. It is thus possible to appropriately suppress the occurrence of side fringing, efficiently cause a magnetic flux to flow from the upper core layer to an upper pole layer, and make the thin film magnetic head adaptable to a higher recording density.

Abstract: An upper shield layer includes a Ni—Fe alloy underlying film formed by sputtering deposition, and a Ni—Fe alloy plating film formed on the underlying film by electroplating. The Fe composition ratio distribution of the upper shield layer in the thickness direction ranges from 17 to 19% by weight.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head includes a lower core layer; a recording core formed on the lower core layer and exposed at a face surface facing a recording medium, the recording core including a gap layer, an upper pole layer, and optionally, a lower pole layer; an upper core layer magnetically coupled to the upper pole layer; and a coil. A tip surface of the upper core layer at the face surface is set back from the face surface in the height direction, and the tip surface is an inclined surface or a curved surface in which the depth gradually increases from the track width direction. A method for fabricating a thin-film magnetic head is also disclosed.

Abstract: The leak magnetic field generated from the upper core layer toward the upper magnetic pole layer can concentrate in the vicinity of the gap layer to suppress side-fringing from generating while increasing the overwrite, by making the saturation magnetic flux density Bs1 of the upper magnetic pole layer to be higher than the saturation magnetic flux density Bs2 of the upper core layer, and by directly bonding the upper core layer on the upper magnetic pole layer.

Abstract: A magnetic head including a lower core layer and an upper core layer, a non-magnetic gap layer and a coil layer. The upper core layer is made of an FeNiX (X being an element of one of rhenium Re and molybdenum Mo). A concentration difference of the upper core layer between a concentration of iron by weight percent and a concentration of the element X by weight percent is set to be larger at a leading edge of the upper core layer than at a position of the upper core layer more backward than the leading edge. In this arrangement, the magnetic head is provided with improved overwrite characteristics and accommodates the use of high-frequency recording signals.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head includes a first coil layer disposed at a lower core layer side of the interface between an upper core layer and an upper magnetic-pole layer, which are joined to each other, and a second coil layer disposed at the upper core layer side of the interface between the upper core layer and the upper magnetic-pole layer. The thickness of a coil conductor of the first coil layer is set smaller than the thickness of a coil conductor of the second coil layer.

Abstract: A soft magnetic film of the present invention is a plated film composed of Co and Fe, and columnar crystals extending in the film thickness direction are provided. In the present invention, columnar crystals extending in the film thickness direction are provided so that an improvement in the surface roughness of the film surface and an improvement in the corrosion resistance can be achieved. Furthermore, the saturation magnetic flux density Bs can also be improved by making the crystal fine and eliminating the need for addition of the noble metal element. That is, according to a CoFe alloy of the present invention, both the corrosion resistance and the saturation magnetic flux density Bs can be improved, and specifically, the above-mentioned saturation magnetic flux density Bs can be increased to 2.35 T or more.

Abstract: A soft magnetic film is formed which is represented by the formula (FexNiy)aMob, in which 0.65≦x≦0.75 and x+y=1 are satisfied when x and y are on a mass percent ratio basis, and 0<b≦5 and a+b=100 are satisfied when a and b are on a mass percent basis, and by using this soft magnetic film, a lower core layer and/or an upper core layer is formed. Accordingly, a saturated magnetic flux density of 1.6 T or more and a resistivity of 40 &mgr;&OHgr;·cm or more can be obtained, and hence a thin film magnetic head having a small loss in a high frequency signal region can be provided.

Abstract: A soft magnetic film composed of an alloy represented by the formula FeNiRe is used for forming a lower core layer and/or an upper core layer. Since having a high saturated magnetic flux density, a high resistivity, superior corrosion resistance, and a small loss in a high frequency signal region, the FeNiRe alloy can be used for forming a highly reliable thin film magnetic head.

Abstract: A track width regulating section having a track width, which is smaller than the resolution obtained by the wavelength of the light used for exposure and development of a resist, is formed between a lower core layer and an upper core layer. Since the width of the upper core layer is larger than the track width, magnetic saturation can be effectively reduced. Inclined faces are formed on the upper surface of the lower core layer so as to be inclined in directions away from the track width regulating section, thereby adequately preventing write fringing.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording head includes an auxiliary magnetic pole layer exposed at a surface facing a recording medium, a main magnetic pole layer deposited on the auxiliary magnetic pole layer with an insulating layer therebetween, a coil layer for applying a recording magnetic field to the auxiliary magnetic pole layer and the main magnetic pole layer, and a connecting layer placed on the auxiliary magnetic pole layer toward the back from the surface facing the recording medium. At the surface facing the recording medium, the upper base of the main magnetic pole layer is wider than the lower base so that the width in the track width direction of the main magnetic pole layer gradually increases with distance from the auxiliary magnetic pole layer. A method for making such a perpendicular magnetic recording head is also disclosed.

Abstract: A gap of a thin-film magnetic head is formed of NiP. The P content of the NiP gap layer is controlled to be within the range of 11 mass percent to 14 mass percent so that the gap layer is nonmagnetic.

Abstract: A main magnetic pole layer is formed on an insulating layer flattened into a high-flatness surface, and a yoke layer having a large film thickness is formed under the main magnetic pole layer independently of the main magnetic pole. The main magnetic pole layer has a front end surface formed in a shape with a width size gradually increasing in a direction of track width as the front end surface departs farther away from an auxiliary magnetic pole layer. A perpendicular magnetic recording head can be provided which can suppress the occurrence of fringing in a recording pattern, and can form the main magnetic pole layer with high pattern accuracy, and can satisfactorily introduce a recording magnetic field to a fore end of the main magnetic pole layer.

Abstract: A lower magnetic pole layer is formed on a lower core layer, and a coil layer and a coil insulating layer are formed in a space corresponding to a level difference between the lower magnetic pole layer and the lower core layer. The coil layer and the coil insulating layer are leveled flush with a reference plane, whereby a gap layer can be formed flat on the lower magnetic pole layer, the coil layer and the coil insulating layer. Thus, since the upper core layer can be directly formed on the gap layer and the gap layer can be formed on the flat surfaces, it is possible to form the upper core layer into a predetermined shape with high accuracy and to manufacture a thin-film magnetic head which is adaptable for a decrease of the track width in future.

Abstract: A soft magnetic film of the invention is to improve a resistivity &rgr; while maintaining a coercive force Hc and a saturation magnetic flux density Ms in good states by adding an element X (X is one or more kinds of elements selected from O, C, N, and S). Further, a thin film magnetic head capable of coping with an increase in a recording density and an increase in a recording frequency can be provided by using the soft magnetic film in core layers.

Abstract: A track width regulating section having a track width, which is smaller than the resolution obtained by the wavelength of the light used for exposure and development of a resist, is formed between a lower core layer and an upper core layer. Since the width of the upper core layer is larger than the track width, magnetic saturation can be effectively reduced. Inclined faces are formed on the upper surface of the lower core layer so as to be inclined in directions away from the track width regulating section, thereby adequately preventing write fringing.

Abstract: A main magnetic pole layer is formed on an insulating layer flattened into a high-flatness surface, and a yoke layer having a large film thickness is formed on the main magnetic pole layer independently of the main magnetic pole. The main magnetic pole layer has a front end surface formed in a shape with a width size gradually increasing in a direction of track width as the front end surface departs farther away from an auxiliary magnetic pole layer. A perpendicular magnetic recording head can be provided which can suppress the occurrence of fringing in a recording pattern, and can form the main magnetic pole layer with high pattern accuracy, and can satisfactorily introduce a recording magnetic field to a fore end of the main magnetic pole layer.

Abstract: A gap layer is formed by electroplating NiP using a pulsed current. This can suppress crystallization of Ni due to epitaxial growth near the interface of the gap layer. Therefore, a large amount of nonmagnetic element such as P can be contained, and the vicinity of the interface can be put into an amorphous state to improve corrosion resistance.