Abstract: A first variable resistor (5) is connected between a first terminal (7) and a third terminal (9) and increases/reduces its resistance value in accordance with the polarity of a pulse voltage applied between the first terminal (7) and the third terminal (9). A second variable resistor (6) is connected between the third terminal (9) and a second terminal (8) and increases/reduces its resistance value in accordance with the polarity of a pulse voltage applied between the third terminal (9) and the second terminal (8). Given pulse voltages are applied between the first terminal (7) and the third terminal (9) and between the third terminal (9) and the second terminal (8) to reversibly change the resistance values of the first and second variable resistors (5, 6), thereby recording one bit or multiple bits of information.

Abstract: An initialization method of the present invention is a method for initializing a material (variable-resistance material) (2) whose resistance value increases/decreases according to the polarity of an applied electric pulse. An electric pulse having a first polarity is applied at least once between first and second electrodes (1, 3) connected to the variable-resistance material (2) such that the potential of the first electrode is higher than that of the second electrode.

Abstract: In a magnetic head, a multilayer film is disposed, the multilayer film including metal magnetic films and non-magnetic films that are alternately laminated, and a boundary between the multilayer film and a magnetic oxide substrate or a non-magnetic substrate on which the multilayer film is to be formed is parallel with a gap section at a surface of the magnetic head for sliding with respect to a magnetic recording medium. The metal magnetic films constituting the multilayer film have two or more types of thickness, or the metal magnetic films constituting the multilayer film have a uniform thickness, and the uniform thickness t satisfies t<v×cos ?/fmax, where v denotes a relative speed of the head to the recording medium, fmax denotes an upper limit of frequencies to be used and ? denotes an azimuth angle. With this configuration, a magnetic head having a suppressed pseudo signal and reduced noise can be provided, and a magnetic recording/reproducing device incorporating this magnetic head can be provided.

Abstract: A magnetic head that is less prone to wear and has a long still duration and a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus including a high-speed rotary drum unit using the same are provided.

Abstract: Method for producing a magnetic head of a pair of magnetic core halves combined with a nonmagnetic layer therebetween including forming a winding window in at least one of a pair of generally flat oxide magnetic plates, forming at least one underlying layer on each oxide magnetic plate, forming a metal magnetic thin film on the underlying layer containing magnetic crystalline particles having average volume Va and average surface area Sa fulfilling the relationship Sa>about 4.64 Va¾, forming a groove in a body including the oxide magnetic plate, underlying layer and metal magnetic thin film, and combining the body with another body including an oxide magnetic plate and a metal magnetic thin film with a nonmagnetic layer therebetween, where the metal magnetic thin film is formed in such a manner to prevent the oxide magnetic plates from cracking due to internal stress generated in the metal magnetic thin film.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes a pair of magnetic core halves; and a nonmagnetic layer provided between the pair of magnetic core halves for combining the pair of magnetic core halves. The pair of magnetic core halves each includes an oxide magnetic base, at least one underlying layer provided on the oxide magnetic base, and a metal magnetic thin film provided between the underlying film and the nonmagnetic layer. The metal magnetic thin film includes a magnetic film containing, as a major material, magnetic crystalline particles having an average volume Va and an average surface area Sa fulfilling the relationship of Sa>about 4.84 Va⅔. At least one of the pair of magnetic core halves has a winding window therein. The metal magnetic thin film is provided in such a manner as to prevent the oxide magnetic base from cracking due to an internal stress generated in the metal magnetic thin film.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes a pair of magnetic core halves; and a nonmagnetic layer provided between the pair of magnetic core halves for combining the pair of magnetic core halves. The pair of magnetic core halves each includes an oxide magnetic base, at least one underlying layer provided on the oxide magnetic base, and a metal magnetic thin film provided between the underlying film and the nonmagnetic layer. The metal magnetic thin film includes a magnetic film containing, as a major material, magnetic crystalline particles having an average volume Va and an average surface area Sa fulfilling the relationship of Sa>about 4.84 Va⅔. At least one of the pair of magnetic core halves has a winding window therein. The metal magnetic thin film is provided in such a manner as to prevent the oxide magnetic base from cracking due to an internal stress generated in the metal magnetic thin film.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for analysis of magnetic characteristics of a magnetic device used for designing a magnetic head. The magnetic head has recording and reproducing characteristics and a recording and reproducing apparatus of magnetic characteristics. The apparatus for analysis of magnetic characteristics includes a data input part, a coupled analysis part, and a result output part. The data input part is provided with data related to the characteristics of substances composing the magnetic device, data related to the magnetic device divided into a plurality of parts, data concerning the boundary conditions for analysis of the magnetic device, and data concerning the boundary conditions for analysis of the magnetic field.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes a back core made of ferrite and a magnetic alloy film arranged in a vicinity of a magnetic gap and having an average composition expressed by TxMyNz wherein T is Fe or Co; M is at least one metal selected from a group consisting of Nb, Zr, Ta, Hf, Cr, W and Mo; N is nitrogen; and x, y and z are atomic percentages holding 65.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.94, 5.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.25, 0<z.ltoreq.20 and x+y+z=100. The head includes an oxygen diffusion prevention part of a higher concentration of nitrogen than included in the whole magnetic alloy film which is provided at the magnetic alloy film at an interfacial part to the ferrite core.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for analysis of magnetic characteristics of a magnetic device used for designing a magnetic head. The magnetic head has recording and reproducing characteristics and a recording and reproducing apparatus of magnetic characteristics. The apparatus for analysis of magnetic characteristics includes a data input part, a coupled analysis part, and a result output part. The data input part is provided with data related to the characteristics of substances composing the magnetic device, data related to the magnetic device divided into a plurality of parts, data concerning the boundary conditions for analysis of the magnetic device, and data concerning the boundary conditions for analysis of the magnetic field.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for forming a layer of isotropic soft magnetic nitride alloy even by means of mass-production apparatus wherein a target size is large in comparison to a distance between a substrate and a target, by using a bias sputtering method wherein a negative bias voltage is continuously applied to a substrate and sputtering is carried out in Ar atmosphere mixed with nitrogen gas or periodically mixed with nitrogen gas. Furthermore, the present invention may include a heat treatment of the soft magnetic nitride alloy layer deposited on the substrate in a temperature of more than 300.degree..degree.C. to less than 800.degree. C. to improve a soft magnetic characteristic.

Abstract: The method of the invention provides a soft magnetic film having a high saturation magnetic flux density and an anisotropy of high magnetic permeability suitable for use in various types of magnetic heads at a high production yield by use of a sputtering apparatus provided with a sputtering electrode, which has permanent magnets arranged above a target 1 mainly of Fe or Co in such a way that lines of magnetic force 3 generated by said permanent magnets are in parallel to the surface of said target 1 and to the center line of said target 1 and have a magnetic strength pattern symmetric with respect to said center line while the lines of magnetic force to the right of said center line are of a reverse direction to those to the left of said center line.

Abstract: The soft magnetic alloy film of the present invention is not a simple nitride alloy film but incorporates a compositional modulation in which at least the content of nitrogen is periodically modulated in the direction of film thickness after the deposition of the alloy film by a sputtering procedure. Also, the soft magnetic alloy film of the present invention contains a main content of Fe for providing higher saturation magnetization, one or more metals selected from Nb, Ta, Zr, Ti, and Hf, and fine grains of Fe based materials developed after annealing. Therefore, the soft magnetic alloy film of the present invention can exhibit better magnetic properties including higher saturation magnetization and improved soft magnetic characteristics after the annealing and also, ensuring minimum magnetostriction with a specific composition.

Abstract: A metal-in-gap type magnetic head having a small undulation of reproduction output caused by a pseudo-gap and method of manufacture thereof are provided, wherein the magnetic head employs as a back core a ferrite (particularly, a ferrite containing Sn) and employs in a metal portion which constitutes a front core an alloy film (particularly, a composition transition alloy film) having a composition expressed by T-M-X-N, where T is at least one metal element selected from a group consisting of Fe, Co and Ni, M is at least one metal element selected from a group consisting of Nb, Zr, Ti, Ta, Hf, Cr, Mo, W and Mn, X is at least one metalloid element selected from a group consisting of B, Si and Ge, and N is nitrogen.

Abstract: The disclosed magnetic nitride T-M-N film (T is at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Ni and Mn; M is at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Nb, Zr, Ti, Ta, Hf, Cr, W and Mo; N is nitrogen (N)) has excellent wear resistance and high electric resistivity, and the compositionally modulated nitride film shows a soft magnetic property, as well as thermal stability of the properties.

Abstract: A nitrogen-containing magnetic alloy film composed of T-M-X amorphous alloy film and (T-M-X)N nitride film, and another film having a composition represented by (T-M-X)N and being compositionally modulated (In both cases T is at least one element selected from the group of Fe, Co, Ni and Mn, M is at least one element selected from the group of Ti, Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W, Re and Ru, X is at least one element selected from the group of B, Si, Ge and Al, and N is nitrogen.) show excellent characteristics for magnetic head cores such as soft magnetic property and wear resistance.

Abstract: A nitrogen-containing Fe-based soft magnetic alloy suitable for use as the material of a magnetic head core, as well as a method for manufacturing the soft magnetic alloy film. Unlike a mere nitride alloy film, the soft magnetic alloy of the present invention has a compositionally modulated structure in which at least the nitrogen content is periodically modulated in the direction of thickness of the film so as to have a nitride layer rich at least in nitrogen and a non-nitride layer poor at least in nitrogen. The soft magnetic alloy film of the invention comprises a main constituent of Fe, at least one metalloid element selected from the group consisting of B, Si and C, and at least one metal element selected from the group consisting of Nb, Ta, Zr and Ti and has fine Fe-based grains included therein.

Abstract: Magnetic Fe alloy films in which at least nitrogen is compositionally modulated along the thickness of the film substantially in the form of a sine wave. By the compositional modulation, the Fe alloy film having high saturation magnetization is imparted with good resistances to corrosion and wear. The method of making a compositionally modulated Fe alloy film is described. The compositional modulation may be realized by merely superposing at least one nitrided layer and at least one nitride-free layer. The thermal treatment of the superposed layers is effective for the modulation where the content of the nitrogen in the film is compositionally modulated.

Abstract: Soft magnetic laminated materials having both superior wear resistance and a high saturation magnetization comprising Fe-Si alloy films 1 having small magnetostriction, and films 2 of an amorphous alloy or Fe-Si-Al alloy having both small magnetostriction and excellent wear resistance, said first and second films being alternately laminated, the thickness (t.sub.1) of the first film and the thickness (t.sub.

Abstract: The disclosed magnetic nitride T-M-N film (T is at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Ni and Mn; M is at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Nb, Zr, Ti, Ta, Hf, Cr, W and Mo; N is nitrogen (N)) has excellent wear resistance and high electric resistivity, and the compositionally modulated nitride film shows a soft magnetic property, as well as thermal stability of the properties.