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 magnetic reproducing head and a magnetic recording head. The magnetic reproducing head includes a GMR or TMR magnetic sensor, and a flux guide for introducing a magnetic flux into the magnetic sensor. At least a portion of the flux guide includes a material which is capable of permitting the magnetic flux to pass therethrough at a temperature not lower than a predetermined temperature Tp, but not permitting the magnetic flux to pass therethrough at a temperature lower than Tp. Light is irradiated to only a portion of the flux guide to cause the temperature of the irradiated portion to rise up to Tp or more, thereby permitting a magnetic flux to pass only through the irradiated portion, thus narrowing the track width of magnetic reproducing head when detecting recorded information from the magnetic recording medium.

Abstract: A magnetic recording and reproducing head which includes a magnetic sensor, and a flux guide for introducing a magnetic flux into the magnetic sensor. At least a portion of the flux guide is constituted by a material which permits the magnetic flux to pass therethrough at a temperature of not lower than a predetermined temperature Tp, but not permit the magnetic flux to pass therethrough at a temperature of lower than Tp. Light is irradiated to only a portion of the flux guide to cause the temperature of the irradiated portion to rise up to Tp or more, thereby permitting a magnetic flux to pass only through the irradiated portion.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a magneto-resistive device which has a high reproducing output and is suitable for use as CPP-GMR. The magneto-resistive device has a first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer, and a non-magnetic spacer formed between said first and second magnetic layers, such that said first magnetic layer contains a magnetic material whose conduction electrons belong to a first energy band and said second magnetic layer contains a magnetic material whose conduction electrons belong to a second energy band, with said first and second energy bands being attributable to orbitals of the same kind, thereby increasing the ratio of change in magnetoresistance and adjusts electric resistance.

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: A magnetic head at high sensitivity and with enhanced output having a magnetoresistive element of high output and optimal for use in CPP-GMR, the magnetoresistive element comprising a pinned layer 606 containing a half-metal, a free layer 608 formed on one main surface of the pinned layer 606 a spacer 607 formed between the pinned layer 606 and the free layer 608, an anti-ferromagnetic layer 603 formed on the main surface of the pinned layer 606, a soft magnetic layer 604 formed between the pinned layer 606 and the anti-ferromagnetic layer 606, and a noble-metallic layer 605 formed between the pinned layer 606 and the soft magnetic layer.

Abstract: No related magnetoresistive multi-layered films made from a metal magnetic film provide sufficient reproducing output power. A high-polarized layer with a thickness of 10 nm or less is formed as a Fe-rich Fe—O layer in contact with the interface of a non-magnetic intermediate layer and the resulting layers are heat treated to form a multi-layered film of ferromagnetic Fe—O layers, achieving a magnetoresistive element having high magnetoresistance.

Abstract: There are provided a magnetic reproducing head and a magnetic recording head, which are easy to manufacture and suited for recording and reproducing by means of magnetic recording medium of narrow track size. The magnetic reproducing head is constituted by a GMR or TMR magnetic sensor, and a flux guide for introducing a magnetic flux into the magnetic sensor, wherein at least a portion of the flux guide is constituted by a material which is capable of permitting the magnetic flux to pass therethrough at a temperature of not lower than a predetermined temperature Tp, but not permitting the magnetic flux to pass therethrough at a temperature of lower than Tp.

Abstract: There are provided a magnetic reproducing head and a magnetic recording head, which are easy to manufacture and suited for recording and reproducing by means of magnetic recording medium of narrow track size. The magnetic reproducing head is constituted by a GMR or TMR magnetic sensor, and a flux guide for introducing a magnetic flux into the magnetic sensor, wherein at least a portion of the flux guide is constituted by a material which is capable of permitting the magnetic flux to pass therethrough at a temperature of not lower than a predetermined temperature Tp, but not permitting the magnetic flux to pass therethrough at a temperature of lower than Tp.

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: 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 head of storage/read separation type in which both a reproducing head of magnetoresistive type and a write head of magnetic induction type are formed through a magnetic shield. The magnetic head includes a ferromagnetic material and an antiferromagnetic material in intimate contact with said ferromagnetic material. At least a part of the antiferromagnetic material acts to bring about unidirectional anisotropy in the ferromagnetic material, and is made of Cr--Mn-based alloy, and at least a part of the ferromagnetic material in intimate contact with the antiferromagnetic material is made of Co or Co-based alloy.

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 ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic material having a high exchange coupling and a high thermal stability, and a magnetic storage system using this material which has excellent reliability and recording density, and a magnetoresistive storage/read separation head having a high sensitivity and a low noise property. The magnetic storage/read system of the invention mounts a magnetoresistive head using a chromium-manganese antiferromagnetic layer/a cobalt alloy layer as a pinning layer or the longitudinal bias layer of the spin-valve type magnetoresistive layered film.

Abstract: A magnetic disc apparatus capable of noiseless, high-output reproduction is disclosed. A magnetic head including a magnetic domain control structure having an antiferromagnetic film for applying a longitudinally biasing magnetic field to a magneto-sensitive portion of a magneto-resistance effect film, and a magnetic film smaller in spontaneous magnetization than the magneto-resistance effect film, which magnetic film is interposed between the magneto-resistance effect film and the antiferromagnetic film. A magnetic disc apparatus is thus realized which is high in recording density and usable in stable manner within the operating temperature range.

Abstract: A magnetic disc apparatus is disclosed, in which a magneto-resistance effect film converts a magnetic signal into an electrical signal by use of the magneto-resistance effect, a pair of electrodes supplies a signal detection current to the magneto-resistance effect film, and a magnetic domain control layer controls the magnetic domain of the magneto-resistance effect film. The magneto-resistance effect film, the electrodes and the magnetic domain control layer constitute a magnetic head of magneto-resistance effect type. An isolation film is formed in a magneto-sensitive portion of the magneto-resistance effect film between the magneto-resistance effect film and the magnetic domain control layer to break the magnetic coupling between the magneto-resistance effect film and the magnetic domain control layer.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive head has a substrate (1) and, on the substrate, a magnetoresistive film (40) for converting a magnetic signal into an electric signal by using magnetoresistance effects and a pair of electrodes (60) for causing a signal detection current to flow through the magnetoresistive film. A pair of first domain wall suppressing layers (30) are arranged at opposite end portions of the magnetoresistive film, respectively, to apply a longitudinal magnetic bias to the magnetoresistive film. A second domain wall suppressing layer (45) is also provided for applying a longitudinal magnetic bias, which is weaker compared with the longitudinal magnetic bias applied by the first domain wall suppressing layers, to the magnetoresistive film (40).