Abstract: The present invention is directed to an MR element and a thin film magnetic head that do not cause an increase in the electrical resistance value due to the presence of dead zones. When forming passive areas that include magnetic domain control films and conductive films at the two sides of a central active area through a vacuum film formation method, the magnetic domain control films are formed under film forming conditions that are different from the film forming conditions under which the conductive films are formed to ensure that the degree to which the conductive films overlap the central active area is set larger than the degree to which the magnetic domain control films overlap the central active area.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an MR element and a thin film magnetic head that do not cause an increase in the electrical resistance value due to the presence of dead zones. When forming passive areas that include magnetic domain control films and conductive films at the two sides of a central active area through a vacuum film formation method, the magnetic domain control films are formed under film forming conditions that are different from the film forming conditions under which the conductive films are formed to ensure that the degree to which the conductive films overlap the central active area is set larger than the degree to which the magnetic domain control films overlap the central active area.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an MR element and a thin film magnetic head that do not cause an increase in the electrical resistance value due to the presence of dead zones. When forming passive areas that include magnetic domain control films and conductive films at the two sides of a central active area through a vacuum film formation method, the magnetic domain control films are formed under film forming conditions that are different from the film forming conditions under which the conductive films are formed to ensure that the degree to which the conductive films overlap the central active area is set larger than the degree to which the magnetic domain control films overlap the central active area.

Abstract: A central active area includes a MR film, a nonmagnetic spacer film and a soft magnetic film with the MR film constituting the lowermost layer on top of a supporting body, the nonmagnetic spacer film laminated on top of the MR film and the soft magnetic film laminated on top of the nonmagnetic spacer film to provide a lateral bias field to the MR film. A magnetic transducer and a thin film magnetic head with which the main peak width in the off track characteristics can be increased and, consequently, the margin can be increased are provided.

Abstract: A magnetic disk comprising an annular flexible substrate and a magnetic layer on at least one substrate major surface is provided with a plastic film ring or a pair of plastic film rings along the outer periphery of the disk. The ring is adhesively secured to the disk on the substrate major surface. The ring thickness is controlled to a specific range relative to the substrate thickness, presenting a magnetic disk featuring stable operation and a minimized output variation.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium comprises a magnetic layer coated on a substrate and composed of ferromagnetic powder dispersed in a binder, wherein the magnetic layer contains TiO.sub.2 having an average particle size of at most 8 .mu.m and a surface area of at most 25 m.sup.2 /g as measured by a nitrogen adsorption method, and Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 having an average particle size of at least 0.1 .mu.m and a surface area of at most 30 m.sup.2 /g as measured by a nitrogen adsorption method.