Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magneto-resistance effect element includes a first shield, a second shield, a third shield, a first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer, and an intermediate layer. The third shield is provided between the first shield and the second shield, and is in contact with the second shield. A length of the third shield along a first direction crossing a stacking direction from the first shield toward the second shield is shorter than a length along the first direction of the second shield. The first magnetic layer is provided between the first shield and the third shield. The second magnetic layer is provided between the first magnetic layer and the third shield, and is exchange-coupled to the third shield. The intermediate layer is provided between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a magnetoresistive element between a first magnetic shield layer and a second magnetic shield layer, and a hard bias layer between the first magnetic shield layer and the second magnetic shield layer on a side surface of the magnetoresistive element in a first direction intersecting with a second direction which links the first and second magnetic shield layers. The hard bias layer includes Fe or an alloy containing Fe and Co. An aspect ratio (h/w) of the hard bias layer is not smaller than 2, where h is a height of the hard bias layer in the first direction and w is a thickness of the hard bias layer in the second direction.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a main pole configured to apply a recording magnetic field to a recording layer of a recording medium, a return pole opposed to the main pole with a write gap therebetween, and a high-frequency oscillator between respective facing surfaces of the main pole and the return pole and configured to produce a high-frequency magnetic field. At least one of the main and return poles faces the high-frequency oscillator and includes a laminated structure portion includes a magnetic layer and a nonmagnetic layer laminated to one another.

Abstract: An example magnetic writing head includes a main magnetic pole and a coil to generate an ampere magnetic field to magnetize the main magnetic pole to cause the magnetized main magnetic pole to generate a magnetic field. The laminated body includes a first magnetic layer, and a second magnetic layer.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a reproducing unit to detect a medium magnetic field recorded in a magnetic recording medium. The reproducing unit includes first and second magnetic shields, a stacked body, and a side wall film. The stacked body is provided between the first and second magnetic shields and includes first and second magnetic layer and an intermediate layer provided between them. The stacked body has a side wall. The side wall intersects a plane perpendicular to a stacking direction from the first magnetic shield toward the second magnetic shield. The side wall film covers at least a part of the side wall of the stacked body. The side wall film includes at least one of Fe and Co, and has a composition different from a composition of the first magnetic layer and different from a composition of the second magnetic layer.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a reproducing section. The reproducing section detects a medium magnetic field recorded in a magnetic recording medium. The reproducing section includes a stacked film and a magnetic field application unit. The stacked film includes a first magnetization layer and a second magnetization layer. The first magnetization layer has a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. A magnetization of the first magnetization layer being is fixed. The second magnetization layer is stacked with the first magnetization layer and oscillates. The magnetic field application unit is stacked with the stacked film and applies a bias magnetic field having a component along the first axis to the stacked film. A resistance of the stacked film changes in accordance with the medium magnetic field when a current not less than a value at which the second magnetization layer oscillates is passed.

Abstract: A recording head including a first electrode, a first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer, a first intermediate layer, a third magnetic layer, a second electrode, and a magnetic pole. A product of saturated magnetization of the first magnetic layer and a lateral area of the first magnetic layer is larger than a product of saturated magnetization of the third magnetic layer and a lateral area of the third magnetic layer.

Abstract: An example magnetic writing head includes a main magnetic pole, a coil to generate an ampere magnetic field to magnetize the main magnetic pole to cause the magnetized main magnetic pole to generate a magnetic field, and a laminated body. The laminated body includes a first magnetic layer having a coercivity lower than the magnetic field applied by the main magnetic pole and a second magnetic layer having a coercivity lower than the magnetic field applied by the main magnetic pole.

Abstract: A spin transfer (torque) oscillator (STO) with a non-magnetic spacer formed between a spin injection layer (SIL) and a field generation layer (FGL), and with an interfacial layer comprised of Fe(100-V)CoV where v is from 5 to 100 atomic % formed between the SIL and non-magnetic spacer is disclosed. A composite seed layer made of Ta and a metal layer having a fcc(111) or hcp(001) texture is used to enhance perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) in the STO device. The interfacial layer quenches SIL oscillations and thereby stabilizes the SIL against FGL oscillations. The interfacial layer preferably has a thickness from 5 to 50 Angstroms and enhances amplitude (dR/R) in the STO device. The STO device may have a top SIL or bottom SIL configuration. The SIL is typically a laminated structure such as (Co/Ni)X where x is between 5 and 50.

Abstract: A magnetic recorder includes: a magnetic recording medium; a reproducing head; a magnetic recording head including: a main magnetic pole; a first magnetic layer containing a TM alloy; a second magnetic layer containing a TM alloy or an RE-TM alloy; a third magnetic layer containing an RE-TM alloy; a first intermediate layer provided between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer; and a second intermediate layer provided between the second magnetic layer and the third magnetic layer; and a signal processing portion which performs signal writing into the magnetic recording medium by using the magnetic recording head and reading from the magnetic recording medium by using the reproducing head.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a spin torque oscillator includes a field generation layer, a spin injection layer including a first layer and a second layer, and an interlayer interposed between the field generation layer and the spin injection layer, wherein the first layer is interposed between the second layer and the interlayer and includes a (001)-oriented Heuslar magnetic alloy or a (001)-oriented magnetic material having a body-centered cubic lattice structure.

Abstract: A spin torque oscillator includes an amorphous soft magnetic layer, a nonmagnetic layer and a hard magnetic layer. The nonmagnetic layer with a close-packed crystal structure is provided on the amorphous soft magnetic layer. The hard magnetic layer with a close-packed crystal structure and perpendicular magnetic anisotropy is provided on the nonmagnetic layer.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording device includes a magnetic recording head and a magnetic recording medium. The magnetic recording head includes a main magnetic pole, a shield and a stacked structure. The main magnetic pole has a medium facing surface and a main magnetic pole side surface. The shield has a shield side surface. The stacked structure is provided between the main magnetic pole and shield, and includes first and second magnetic layers, and an intermediate layer. The magnetic recording medium includes a backing layer and a magnetic recording layer. A distance between an end portion of the medium facing surface on a side of the stacked structure and the backing layer is twice or more of a distance between the main magnetic pole side surface and the shield side surface.

Abstract: A spin transfer (torque) oscillator (STO) with a non-magnetic spacer formed between a spin injection layer (SIL) and a field generation layer (FGL), and with an interfacial layer comprised of Fe(100-V)CoV where v is from 5 to 100 atomic % formed between the SIL and non-magnetic spacer is disclosed. A composite seed layer made of Ta and a metal layer having a fcc(111) or hcp(001) texture is used to enhance perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) in the STO device. The interfacial layer quenches SIL oscillations and thereby stabilizes the SIL against FGL oscillations. The interfacial layer preferably has a thickness from 5 to 50 Angstroms and enhances amplitude (dR/R) in the STO device. The STO device may have a top SIL or bottom SIL configuration. The SIL is typically a laminated structure such as (Co/Ni)X where x is between 5 and 50.

Abstract: An example magnetic recording head includes: a main magnetic pole; a laminated body; and a pair of electrodes. The laminated body includes a first magnetic layer having a coercivity lower than magnetic field applied by the main magnetic pole, a second magnetic layer having a coercivity lower than the magnetic field applied by the main magnetic pole, and an intermediate layer provided between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer. The pair of electrodes is operable to pass a current through the laminated body.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetoresistive element includes a first ferromagnetic layer a magnetization direction of which is pinned, a second ferromagnetic layer a magnetization direction of which is changed depending on an external magnetic field, an intermediate layer arranged between the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer and including an insulating layer and a magnetic conductive column, an alloy layer formed between the magnetic conductive column in the intermediate layer and the second ferromagnetic layer and including at least one of FeCoAl and FeCoAlCu, and a pair of electrodes configured to supply a current perpendicularly to a film plane of a stacked film including the first ferromagnetic layer, the intermediate layer, the alloy layer and the second ferromagnetic layer.

Abstract: A magneto-resistance effect element includes: a first magnetization layer of which a magnetization is substantially fixed in one direction; a second magnetization layer of which a magnetization is rotated in accordance with an external magnetic field; an intermediate layer which contains insulating portions and magnetic metallic portions and which is provided between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer; and a pair of electrodes to flow current in a direction perpendicular to a film surface of a multilayered film made of the first magnetic layer, the intermediate layer and the second magnetic layer; wherein the magnetic metallic portions of the intermediate layer contain non-ferromagnetic metal.

Abstract: It is made possible to reduce the write magnetic field generated from the main magnetic pole toward the spin torque oscillator, so as to reduce the variation in the oscillation characteristics of the spin torque oscillator, and reduce the current required for oscillation. The magnetic head assembly includes: a recording magnetic pole; a spin torque oscillator that has first and second magnetic layers, and an intermediate layer interposed between the first and second magnetic layers, the spin torque oscillator generating a high-frequency magnetic field by applying a current between the first and second magnetic layers; and a third magnetic layer that is placed adjacent to at least part of a side face of the second magnetic layer.

Abstract: An example magneto-resistance effect element includes a magnetization layer and a free magnetization layer of which magnetization direction changes depending on an external magnetic field. A spacer layer is located between the magnetization layer and the free magnetization layer, and has an insulating layer and an electric conductor passing current therethrough in a layer direction of the insulating layer. A diffusive electron scattering layer is disposed on said free magnetization layer for scattering diffusive electrons. The scattering layer includes a first nonmagnetic layer and a second nonmagnetic layer containing a first element and a second element, respectively, and a mixing layer disposed at a boundary between the first and second nonmagnetic layers and containing the first and second elements. The mixing layer has a thickness of 0.5 nm or more and 1.5 nm or less.

Abstract: An example magnetic head includes a recording magnetic pole to generate a recording magnetic field; a spin torque oscillator formed in the vicinity of the recording magnetic pole; and a hard bias film for applying a magnetic field to the spin torque oscillator.