Abstract: There are provided a magnetoresistive sensor of the type of flowing a signal sensing current perpendicular to the plane to improve resolution at reproducing a signal, a magnetic head using the magnetoresistive sensor, and a magnetic disk apparatus.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive element includes a first antiferromagnetic film, a first magnetic film having a magnetization direction fixed by magnetic coupling with the first antiferromagnetic film, a second antiferromagnetic film, a second magnetic film having a magnetization direction fixed by magnetic coupling with the second antiferromagnetic film, a third magnetic film having a magnetization direction able to rotate in response to an applied magnetic field, a first nonmagnetic film disposed between the first magnetic film and the third magnetic film, and a second nonmagnetic film disposed between the second magnetic film and the third magnetic film. The third magnetic film is disposed between the first nonmagnetic film and the second nonmagnetic film, the first magnetic film is disposed between the first antiferromagnetic film and the first nonmagnetic film, and the second magnetic film is disposed between the second antiferromagnetic film and the second nonmagnetic film.

Abstract: The invention provides a magnetoresistive effect sensor that is a yoke type magnetoresistive effect sensor having a tunnel magnetoresistive effect film, which is operated stably with suppressed Barkhausen noise, and provides a reproducing head and a magnetic disk apparatus that use the magnetoresistive effect sensor. The magnetoresistive effect sensor is provided with a tunnel magnetoresistive effect film, a pair of electrodes for supplying a current in the film thickness direction of the magnetoresistive effect film, and a magnetic flux guide for guiding a magnetic flux from the recording medium: surface to the magnetoresistive effect film, wherein the magnetic domain of a free layer of the tunnel type magnetoresistive effect film and the magnetic domain of the magnetic flux guide are both controllable together.

Abstract: There are provided a magnetoresistive sensor of the type of flowing a signal sensing current perpendicular to the plane to improve resolution at reproducing a signal, a magnetic head using the magnetoresistive sensor, and a magnetic disk apparatus.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive sensor employing a magnetoresistive sensor film of a GMR film or a TMR film and a magnetic flux guide to ensure high sensitivity and high stability.

Abstract: The invention provides a magnetoresistive effect sensor that is a yoke type magnetoresistive effect sensor having a tunnel magnetoresistive effect film, which is operated stably with suppressed Barkhausen noise, and provides a reproducing head and a magnetic disk apparatus that use the magnetoresistive effect sensor. The magnetoresistive effect sensor is provided with a tunnel magnetoresistive effect film, a pair of electrodes for supplying a current in the film thickness direction of the magnetoresistive effect film, and a magnetic flux guide for guiding a magnetic flux from the recording medium surface to the magnetoresistive effect film, wherein the magnetic domain of a free layer of the tunnel type magnetoresistive effect film and the magnetic domain of the magnetic flux guide are both controllable together.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive element includes a first antiferromagnetic film, a first magnetic film having a magnetization direction fixed by magnetic coupling with the first antiferromagnetic film, a second antiferromagnetic film, a second magnetic film having a magnetization direction fixed by magnetic coupling with the second antiferromagnetic film, a third magnetic film having a magnetization direction able to rotate in response to an applied magnetic field, a first nonmagnetic film disposed between the first magnetic film and the third magnetic film, and a second nonmagnetic film disposed between the second magnetic film and the third magnetic film. The third magnetic film is disposed between the first nonmagnetic film and the second nonmagnetic film, the first magnetic film is disposed between the first antiferromagnetic film and the first nonmagnetic film, and the second magnetic film is disposed between the second antiferromagnetic film and the second nonmagnetic film.

Abstract: A magnetic storage/read system includes a recording medium having tracks, and a magnetic head, including a magnetoresistive element, which reads a magnetic field from the recording medium. The magnetic storage/read system satisfies a relationship of d≦(12.5×103)/Tr where d is a height, expressed in &mgr;m, of the magnetoresistive element in a direction perpendicular to a plane of the recording medium, and Tr is a track density, expressed in tracks per inch, of the tracks of the recording medium.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes a magnetoresistive element. The magnetoresistive element includes a first magnetic film having a fixed magnetization direction, a second magnetic film having a fixed magnetization direction, a third magnetic film having a rotatable magnetization direction, a first nonmagnetic film, and a second nonmagnetic film. The first magnetic film, the first nonmagnetic film, the third magnetic film, the second nonmagnetic film, and the second magnetic film are stacked in this order.

Abstract: A magnetic storage/read system includes a recording medium for magnetically storing a signal and a magnetoresistive element which is driven relative to the recording medium. The magnetoresistive element may include a substrate, a first antiferromagnetic film, a first ferromagnetic film, a first nonmagnetic film, a soft magnetic film, a second nonmagnetic film, a second ferromagnetic film, and a second antiferromagnetic film, wherein the films are sequentially layered directly on the substrate with no intervening layer between any of the films. At least one of the first antiferromagnetic film and the second antiferromagnetic film may be made of nickel oxide.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic head has magnetic films, at least one of which is composed of a material containing major components of nickel and iron and one or more element from nitrogen, oxygen and carbon and has two of face-centered cubic system and body-centered tetragonal system, whereby thin film magnetic heads having a high permeability and low coercive force can be provided.