Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording head includes a first magnetic layer having a main magnetic pole exposed at a medium-facing surface that faces a recording medium; a second magnetic layer that faces the first magnetic layer with a nonmagnetic layer interposed therebetween; and a coil layer for applying a recording magnetic field to the first magnetic layer. The second magnetic layer includes a relatively thick edge portion, whereby the edge-write magnetic field is reduced and the external magnetic field resistance is increased.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording head according to the present invention is composed of a first magnetic layer having a main magnetic pole exposed at a facing surface opposite a recording medium, a second magnetic layer adjacent to the first magnetic layer with an intermediary non-magnetic layer disposed therebetween, and a coil layer for applying a recording magnetic field to the first magnetic layer. Since the second magnetic layer has a shape including a substantially arched portion in its cross section along a height direction, it becomes possible to keep an Edge Write magnetic field in a low level and improve external magnetic field resistance.

Abstract: A perpendicular spin-torque-driven magnetic oscillator is disclosed. According to various embodiments, the magnetic oscillator comprises a magnetic reference stack, a magnetic oscillating stack, and an interlayer between the reference stack and the oscillating stack such that the reference stack and the oscillating stack are exchange coupled. The reference stack may have sufficient perpendicular anisotropy such that it causes, via the spin momentum transfer effect, the spin polarization of the conducting electrons in the oscillating stack to produce a spin torque on the local magnetization of the oscillating layer. As such, the oscillating stack may produce a sustained gyromagnetic oscillation around the perpendicular axis of the oscillating stack when (i) the oscillating stack and the reference stack have opposite magnetizations and (ii) there is a direct current flowing in the magnetic oscillator from the oscillating stack to the reference stack.

Abstract: Provided is a thin-film magnetic having improved write characteristics in the high-frequency band. The head comprises an electromagnetic coil element comprising upper and lower magnetic layers, a write gap layer and a write coil layer, and in the electromagnetic coil element, at least one non-magnetic layer is provided within the upper magnetic layer, and further, an upper surface, a lower surface, at least a portion of a front surface and at least a portion of a rear surface of the non-magnetic layer are covered with magnetic material of at least one of the upper magnetic layer and the lower magnetic layer.

Abstract: A magnetic head comprises a pole layer, a shield layer, a gap layer disposed between the pole layer and the shield layer, and a coil. The shield layer incorporates a first layer, a second layer, a third layer and a fourth layer that are disposed on the gap layer one by one. The first layer has an end face located in a medium facing surface. The second layer has: a first surface located in the medium facing surface; a second surface touching the first layer; and a third surface opposite to the second surface. The third layer touches the third surface of the second layer. An end face of each of the third and fourth layers closer to the medium facing surface is located at a distance from the medium facing surface.

Abstract: In a magnetic sensor (1) including a substrate (10) having a magnetism-sensitive element (11) formed thereon, a hard membrane (14) is formed on the outermost surface, an organic film (13) to relieve the stress caused by the hard membrane (14) is formed under the hard membrane (14), and an inorganic film (12) to relieve the stress caused by the organic film (13) is formed between the organic film (13) and magnetism-sensitive element (11). Also, an intermediate film formed from an element having a large force of bonding to carbon may be formed between the organic film (13) and hard membrane (14). Thus, the magnetic sensor (MR sensor, for example) can be protected against an external shock.

Abstract: The magnetic film includes an FeCo layer, restrains erasing data by a magnetic field leaked from a magnetic pole, has high saturation magnetic flux density and soft magnetism and writes data with high recording density. The magnetic film for a magnetic head of the present invention comprises: a nonmagnetic layer including at least one selected from a group of Ru, Rh, Ir, Cr, Cu, Au, Ag, Pt and Pd; a magnetic layer including Fe and Co. Anisotropy magnetic field is 0.8 kA/m or more.

Abstract: A soft magnetic film of the present invention is a plated film composed of Co and Fe, and columnar crystals extending in the film thickness direction are provided. In the present invention, columnar crystals extending in the film thickness direction are provided so that an improvement in the surface roughness of the film surface and an improvement in the corrosion resistance can be achieved. Furthermore, the saturation magnetic flux density Bs can also be improved by making the crystal fine and eliminating the need for addition of the noble metal element. That is, according to a CoFe alloy of the present invention, both the corrosion resistance and the saturation magnetic flux density Bs can be improved, and specifically, the above-mentioned saturation magnetic flux density Bs can be increased to 2.35 T or more.

Abstract: A light delivery module, a method of fabricating the same, a heat-assisted magnetic recording head using the light delivery module are provided. The light delivery module delivers light emitted from a light source. The light delivery module includes an optical waveguide having an inclined plane of an angle ? with respect to an incident light axis to deliver an incident light, and a nano aperture changing an energy distribution of the light delivered through the inclined plane to generate an enhanced near-field. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head is mounted on one end of a slider with an air bearing surface to perform a recording operation on a recording medium. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head includes a magnetic path forming unit forming a magnetic field for recording, a light source emitting light for heating a predetermined region of a recording surface of the recording medium, and the light delivery module.

Abstract: An electrode layer for thin-film magnetic heads includes a Ta base sub-layer, an Au sub-layer functioning as a main conductive sub-layer, and a protective sub-layer, those sub-layers being disposed in that order. An Au electrode seed sub-layer containing any one of NiFeCr, NiCr, and NiFe is placed between the Ta base sub-layer and the Au sub-layer. The Au electrode seed sub-layer has a thickness of 40 to 100 ?.

Abstract: An air bearing slider which includes a raised bearing surface or surfaces contoured to limit off nodal pressurization. The air bearing surfaces are located proximate to nodal regions of a height field or profile between the slider and disc surface to limit off-nodal pressurization. The air bearing slider includes a narrow raised bearing surface profile proximate to the trailing edge of the slider body and an expanded intermediate profile along an intermediate portion to provide lift and roll stability proximate to an intermediate nodal region of the slider body to limit off nodal pressurization.

Abstract: A unit element of a magnetic device or a ferroelectric device and magnetic particles of a magnetic recording medium are provided. The outline of the unit element and the magnetic particles is arranged so as to have a portion topologically identical to one of a letter-C shape and a letter-S shape that correspond to the magnetization or polarization distribution immediately before the rotation of magnetization or polarization.

Abstract: A method for measuring a magnetic read width MRW of a magnetic read sensor directly from the derivative of a full track profile, with better accuracy and more advantages than the micro-track method was invented and also there is no need to use a separate wide write head. The magnetic write width MWW of the write head, without the influence of sensor side reading, can also be obtained by this method along with the MRW with no additional calculations.

Abstract: A method characterizes a generally-trapezoidally-shaped portion of a writing pole of a perpendicular magnetic write head in proximity to a magnetic medium. The method includes providing measured track width data corresponding to magnetic track widths of a plurality of tracks written by the writing pole on a rotating magnetic medium underlying the writing pole. The magnetic track widths vary as a function of skew angle of the writing pole during writing. The method further includes determining a magnetic width of the wider of a leading edge and a trailing edge of the writing pole from a first portion of the measured track width data corresponding to a first range of skew angles. The method further includes determining at least one magnetic taper angle of the writing pole from the measured track width data.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive element includes a pair of ferromagnetic layers and a non-magnetic layer arranged between the ferromagnetic layers. At least one of the ferromagnetic layers has a composition expressed by (MxLy)100-zRz at the interface with the non-magnetic layer. The non-magnetic layer includes at least one element selected from the group consisting of B, C, N, O, and P. Here, M is FeaCobNic, L is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Pt, Pd, Ir, and Rh, R is an element that has a lower free energy to form a compound with the element of the non-magnetic layer that is at least one selected from the group consisting of B, C, N, O, and P than does any other element included in the composition as M or L, and a, b, c, x, y, and z satisfy a+b+c=100, a?30, x+y=100, 0<y?35, and 0.1?z?20. This element can provide a high MR ratio. A method for manufacturing a magnetoresistive element includes a first heat treatment process at 200° C. to 330° C.

Abstract: A magnetic detection element suitable for detecting a strength of an external magnetic field, has a magnetic thin film formed on a single non-magnetic substrate, a circuit that applies a high-frequency current to the magnetic thin film, and a spiral-type planar coil that is stacked on the magnetic thin film with an insulating layer, in between. The magnetic thin film is formed in a longitudinal shape, and magnetic anisotropy is provided such that the direction of easy magnetization is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal shape.

Abstract: A method of patterning magnetic material includes forming a ferromagnetic material layer containing one element selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co and Ni on a substrate, selectively masking a surface of the ferromagnetic material layer, and making nonferromagnetic. The making nonferromagnetic step includes exposing an exposed portion in halogen-containing reaction gas, changing magnetism of the exposed portion and a lower layer thereof by chemical reaction, and making the exposed portion a nonferromagnetic material region. A magnetic recording medium is fabricated by using the magnetic material patterning method and includes a plurality of recording regions made of ferromagnetic materials, each containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co and Ni, and a nonferromagnetic material region for separating the recording regions from each other. The nonferromagnetic material region is a compound region of the ferromagnetic material and halogen.

Abstract: A composite coating device includes first to third processing chambers. The first processing chamber performs an ion beam etching as a pretreatment process in which an ion beam is irradiated on a surface of a magnetic head at a predetermined angle and the surface is removed for a predetermined depth. The second processing chamber performs a magnetron sputter deposition as a shock absorbing coating formation process in which a shock absorbing coating is formed on the pretreated surface. The third processing chamber performs an electron cyclotron resonance plasma chemical vapor epitaxy or a cathode arc discharge deposition as an overcoat formation process in which an overcoat is formed on the shock absorbing coating. A preparation chamber communicates with the first to third processing chambers through opening and closing devices for transferring the magnetic head.

Abstract: As to a magnetic tunnel junction magneto-resistive head, which comprises an antiferromagnetic layer, a pinned ferromagnetic layer adjacent to said antiferromagnetic layer and magnetically pinned by a magnetization of said antiferromagnetic layer, a free ferromagnetic layer which is magnetically free from the magnetization of said antiferromagnetic layer, insulating layers sandwiched by these ferromagnetic layers, a stacked layers of ferromagnetic layers to control the magnetic domain of said free ferromagnetic layer and a pair of electrodes to apply a current to these layers and films, said stacked layers of ferromagnetic layers are formed between said free ferromagnetic layer and one of said electrodes. According to this composition, it is possible to present a magnetic tunnel junction magneto-resistive sensor with preferable domain controlling force against the free ferromagnetic layer.

Abstract: A transducing head formed upon a slider has a transducer, an electrical contact layer, a stud electrically connected to the contact layer, and a bond pad electrically connected to the stud. The electrical contact layer is electrically connected to the transducer. The stud is formed of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion less than about 1.3 times a coefficient of thermal expansion of a slider material forming the slider. The bond pad has a metallic underlayer and a top layer. The metallic underlayer is formed of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion less than about 1.1 times the coefficient of thermal expansion of the slider material.

Abstract: A track width defining layer for defining a write track width of a thin-film magnetic head is made of a CoNiFe film formed through electroplating. The CoNiFe film contains 60 to 75 weight % cobalt, 10 to 20 weight % nickel, and 10 to 20 weight % iron, and has a crystal structure that is a mixture of a body-centered cubic structure phase and a face-centered cubic structure phase, in which Ib/If falls within the range of 0.3 to 0.7 inclusive where Ib represents the intensity of an X-ray diffracted from a (110)-plane of the body-centered cubic structure and If represents the intensity of an X-ray diffracted from a (111)-plane of the face-centered cubic structure. The pH of a plating bath for forming the CoNiFe film through electroplating is adjusted to 3.0 to 4.0 inclusive.

Abstract: In a high-frequency impedance type magnetic head having high impedance and capable of efficiently detecting a change in impedance, an electrically conductive metal film is sandwiched between two soft magnetic films, and the two soft magnetic films form a portion of a magnetic path. The thickness of one soft magnetic film is smaller than the thickness of the other soft magnetic film. The electrically conductive metal thin film has a pair of electrodes at respective ends thereof, to which are connected an oscillator for applying a high frequency carrier signal to the electrodes and a high frequency amplifier having a demodulator circuit. Further, an electrically conductive metal film winding is provided, and a DC current is applied to the electrically conductive metal film winding at the time of reproduction, while on the other hand, a signal current is applied to the electrically conductive metal film winding at the time of recording.

Abstract: The present invention provides a thin film magnetic head having sufficient recording performance on a recording medium imparted with a large coercive force. According to the present invention, a plated magnetic thin film can be obtained in which a crystal grain size is modulated in a film thickness direction and a coercive force is reduced. Further, according to the present invention, even for a composition area indicating a high saturation magnetic flux density in which, conventionally, soft magnetic properties could not be obtained, magnetic film having an excellent soft magnetic property can be manufactured.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive effect element includes a laminated body including a magnetosensitive layer a magnetizing direction of which is changed by an external magnetic field and constituted such that a current is made to flow in a direction orthogonal to a laminated layer face thereof, and a annular magnetic layer arranged at a side of one face of the laminated body to constitute an axial direction by a direction along the laminated layer face and constituted to be penetrated by a plurality of lead wires and therefore, a closed magnetic path can be formed by making current flow to a plurality of lead wires and inversion of magnetization at the magnetosensitive layer can further efficiently be carried out.

Abstract: A ferromagnetic thin-film based magnetic field sensor having a nonmagnetic intermediate layer with two major surfaces on opposite sides thereof upon one of which a magnetization reference layer is provided and upon the other there being provided a sensing layer. A spacer layer is provided on the sensing film to separate this sensing film from an augmenting film with the spacer layer being sufficiently thick so as to significantly reduce or eliminate topological coupling between the sensing and augmenting films, and to significantly randomize spin states of emerging electrons traversing therethrough.

Abstract: A method of making an inductive transducer having inorganic nonferromagnetic material disposed in an apex region adjacent to a submicron nonferromagnetic gap in a magnetic core. The inorganic nonferromagnetic apex region can be made by chemical etching of a layer of inorganic nonferromagnetic material, deposition of inorganic nonferromagnetic material through a mask that is then lifted-off, or anisotropic etching of a layer of inorganic nonferromagnetic material that is covered by a hardbaked photoriesist mask.

Abstract: A nano-magnetic head for inputting and outputting magnetic signals with nano-region precision on a magnetic recording medium such as magnetic tapes, magnetic cards, magnetic disks, magnetic drums, etc. The nano-magnetic head uses a nanotube with its base end portion fastened to a holder that is at an end of an AFM cantilever. The tip end portion of the nanotube protrudes from the holder, and a nanocoil is wound around the outer circumference of the tip end portion of the nanotube so that signals are inputted and outputted at both ends of the nanocoil. By way of lining up ferromagnetic metal atoms in the hollow portion of the nanotube, it is possible to strengthen the magnetic signal. The nano-magnetic head is combinable with a signal controller, thus forming a nano-magnetic head device.

Abstract: A main magnetic pole core of a metallic soft magnetic multi-layer film is formed on a substrate via a non-magnetic insulation film, two detecting conductor films are made contact with both side faces of the main magnetic pole core respectively, and a high-frequency signal is applied across the two detecting conductor films. When a magnetic flux passing through the main magnetic pole core changes, its impedance changes, and this change is taken out as the change in the amplitude of the high-frequency signal. A pair of electrode terminals connected to both ends of the detecting conductor films respectively, a power source terminal and a ground terminal are formed on the substrate. A semiconductor bare chip used as a high-frequency amplifier is installed so as to be opposite to these terminals, whereby the terminals of the bare chip are directly connected to the electrode terminals, power source terminal and ground terminal.

Abstract: A single pole perpendicular write head is provided comprising an inductive write head pole structure comprising a layered structure alternating a plurality of ferromagnetic layers with a plurality of antiparallel coupling layers to form an antiparallel coupled ferromagnetic stack. The antiparallel coupling of the ferromagnetic layers when the head is not writing forms a flux closed magnetic configuration of the write pole resulting in reduction or elimination of stray remanence fields at the pole tip region that may cause unwanted data erasure at the disk surface.

Abstract: A head for use in a drive includes a heating element capable of generating heat sufficient to cause the head to have a shape that is similar or identical to the shape that the head has when performing an operation (e.g. writing) on a recording medium in the drive. The heating element is activated when the operation is not being performed. Hence, a head generates the same amount (or similar amount) of heat and is therefore at the same temperature (also called “operating temperature”), regardless of whether or not an operation (such as writing) is being performed. Therefore, the head maintains a fixed shape or has a shape that varies minimally, within a predetermined range around the fixed shape, that in turn results in maintaining fly height (distance between the head and the recording medium). The heating element may be implemented to use loss mechanisms inherent in a write transducer, e.g. by providing a center tap to the write transducer.

Abstract: An etching mask is made of a metal such as Permalloy (NiFe) and has a T-shaped cross section made up of a vertical bar having width W1 and a lateral bar having width W2. Through ion beam etching with the etching mask, the region in the surface of a workpiece not covered with the mask is selectively removed by the ion beams applied thereto. In the mask the vertical bar has a region obstructed by the lateral bar and a redeposit portion. As a result, the region of the vertical bar near the interface between the workpiece and the vertical bar that substantially determines the pattern width does not change in width. Consequently, a pattern of the workpiece on which etching has been performed has the top width and bottom width substantially equal to width W1 of the vertical bar of the mask. The pattern is rectangular in cross section.

Abstract: A tunable dielectric antireflective layer for use in photolithographic applications, and specifically, for use in an image transfer processing. The tunable dielectric antireflective layer provides a spin-on-glass (SOG) material that can act as both a hardmask and a deep UV antireflective layer (BARC). One such material is titanium oxide generated by spin-coating a titanium alkanate and curing the film by heat or electron beam. The material can be “tuned” to match index of refraction (n) with the index of refraction for the photoresist and also maintain a high absorbency value, k, at a specified wavelength. A unique character of the tunable dielectric antireflective layer is that the BARC/hardmask layer allows image transfer with deep ultraviolet photoresist.

Abstract: A vernier magnetic recording head comprises multiple read and write transducers. The write transducers are equally spaced a first distance apart and the read transducers are equally spaced a second distance apart. The write transducers initially write a plurality of equally spaced servo tracks which can be subsequently tracked by the read transducers. The write transducers may then be used to successively write a plurality of data tracks to one side of each servo track. The read transducers are positioned relative to the write transducers such that one read transducer is always positioned to track a servo track while the write transducers are writing the data tracks, thereby positioning the data tracks equidistant and parallel to or concentric with the servo tracks. One read transducer is positioned to track a servo track as the head is positioned at an extreme so that read transducers read data from the furthest data tracks, and the head may be positioned to write an adjacent set of new servo tracks.

Abstract: A structure is integrated into the design and manufacture of a magnetic head that allows self-generation of magnetic fields. The structure includes a conductor or conductors placed in close proximity to the read portion of a magnetic head and connected to an externally accessible connection. A high frequency signal is passed through the conductor to generate a magnetic field through the read device and simulate, for example, the head crossing magnetic domains on a magnetic memory disk.

Abstract: A method for multi-layer electrodeposition in a single bath is also provided. A substrate is immersed in a bath. An electrodeposition operation is initiated for depositing a first layer of material on the substrate. The electrodeposition operation includes agitating the bath and applying current pulses. The electrodeposition operation is later altered for depositing a second layer of material on the first layer, where the second layer is of a different composition than the first layer. In the altered mode, the current density is changed for altering a composition of material deposited on the substrate, the duration and/or frequency of the current pulses are altered, and the bath is agitated at a different rate of agitation.

Abstract: A magnetic impedance element including a substrate made of a non-magnetic material, a thin-film magnetic core formed on said substrate, and first and second electrodes disposed on both ends of said thin-film magnetic core in a longitudinal direction thereof, characterized in that said thin-film magnetic core is formed by laminating a plurality of magnetic films through non-magnetic thin-films.

Abstract: A slider having leading and trailing edges is configured to fly on an airbearing above a data storage disk rotating from the leading edge to the trailing edge. Read and write heads are mounted on the slider proximate the trailing edge. An auxiliary thermal sensor is mounted on the slider, but preferably nearer the leading edge. Forward placement of the sensor allows it to sense mechanical defects before they reach the heads, thereby permitting a write inhibit operation, for example. The sensor may also be used to detect airbearing modulation. Appropriate action may be taken when unacceptable airbearing modulation is detected, such as notifying the user and/or scrubbing the slider. The sensor is preferably wider than the heads. This allows, for example, an in-situ glide test to be performed faster using the sensor. An arm electronics module is preferably configured to permit concurrent operation of the sensor and heads.

Abstract: A soft magnetic film of the invention is to improve a resistivity &rgr; while maintaining a coercive force Hc and a saturation magnetic flux density Ms in good states by adding an element X (X is one or more kinds of elements selected from O, C, N, and S). Further, a thin film magnetic head capable of coping with an increase in a recording density and an increase in a recording frequency can be provided by using the soft magnetic film in core layers.

Abstract: Magnetic film comprising a substantially crystalline magnetic layer and an intermediate layer alternately formed in contact with each other, wherein the magnetic layer has composition (M1&agr;1X1&bgr;1)100−&dgr;1A1&dgr;1 (&agr;1, &bgr;1, and &dgr;1 represent % by atomic weight; M1 is at least one of Fe, Co, and Ni; X1 is at least one of Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Si, Ge, Sn, Al, Ga, and transition metals excluding M1; and A1 is at least one of O and N), wherein: 0.1≦&bgr;1≦12 &agr;1+&bgr;1=100 0<&dgr;1≦10; the intermediate layer has composition (M2&agr;2X2&bgr;2)100−&dgr;2A2&dgr;2 (&agr;2, &bgr;2, and &dgr;2 represent % by atomic weight; M2 is at least one of Fe, Co, and Ni; X2 is at least one of Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Si, Ge, Sn, Al, Ga, Ge and transition metals excluding the M2; and A2 is O), wherein: 0.1≦&bgr;2≦80 &agr;2+&bgr;2=100 &dgr;1≦&dgr;2≦67.

Abstract: A spin valve structure and a method for manufacturing it are described. The spin valve uses a modified pinned layer that consists of two cobalt iron layers separated by a layer of either ruthenium, iridium, or rhodium. A key feature of the invention is that this spacer layer is significantly thinner (typically 3-4 Angstroms) than similar layers in prior art structures. Normally, when such thin spacer layers are used, annealing fields in excess of 20,000 Oersted are needed to cause the two cobalt iron layers to become antiparallel. The present invention, however, teaches that much lower annealing fields (spanning a limited range) may be used with equal effect. The result is that a very high internal pinning field is created giving devices of this type greater pinned layer stability and reduced pinning reversal. These devices also exhibits a minimum amount of open looping in their hysteresis curves.

Abstract: A shielded magnetic head includes a magnetically shielded gap and first to fourth conductive magnetic films disposed in the gap. The first to fourth conductive magnetic films, each extending parallel to a tip face of a magnetic head to be opposed to a magnetic recording medium, are aligned at a distance from one another in a direction perpendicular to the tip face so as to be away from the tip face in ascending order and connected to one another so as to form a bridge circuit. The distance between the first conductive magnetic film and the tip face is set so that a signal magnetic field from the magnetic recording medium is applied to the first conductive magnetic film. By canceling impedance components that do not vary depending on a magnetic field, the shielded magnetic head detects only impedance components that vary depending on a signal magnetic field.

Abstract: This invention relates to a multi-layer lithographically fabricated device used to produce improved thin-film recording heads. It further relates to a focused particle beam system for milling a recording head pole-tip assembly without irradiating a sensitive structure, e.g. a read head, of the recording head. The invention precisely forms a pole-tip assembly by milling a second structural element without irradiating a first structural element. The invention avoids irradiating the first structural element by placing a first marker element, which can be imaged and/or damaged, in the same layer of a multi-layer lithographically fabricated device as the first structural element. The marker element has a fixed spatial relationship to the first structural element.

Abstract: A nano-magnetic head for inputting and outputting magnetic signals with nano-region precision on a magnetic recording medium such as magnetic tapes, magnetic cards, magnetic disks, magnetic drums, etc. The nano-magnetic head uses a nanotube with its base end portion fastened to a holder that is at an end of an AFM cantilever. The tip end portion of the nanotube protrudes from the holder, and a nanocoil is wound around the outer circumference of the tip end portion of the nanotube so that signals are inputted and outputted at both ends of the nanocoil. By way of lining up ferromagnetic metal atoms in the hollow portion of the nanotube, it is possible to strengthen the magnetic signal. The nano-magnetic head is combinable with a signal controller, thus forming a nano-magnetic head device.

Abstract: To provide a head slider in which friction force is small even if the head slider comes in contact with a magnetic disk having a smooth surface at high speed, vibration is small and wear resistance is high and provide a head slider assembly using the head slider, a magnetic disk apparatus, a burnishing process, glide inspection and an error check process, a head slider provided with plural air bearing surfaces for floating over the magnetic disk or one or more lubricant bearing surfaces for smoothly gliding over the magnetic disk, coming in contact is manufactured so that a slope angle on the front side of a bearing surface in the traveling direction of the head slider is larger than a slope angle on the rear side of the bearing surface in the vicinity of a contact part of the bearing surface that may come in contact with the magnetic disk in front of a loading point of the head and the slope angle on the front side of the bearing surface is 20 &mgr;rad or more.

Abstract: In a high-frequency impedance type magnetic head having high impedance and capable of efficiently detecting a change in impedance, an electrically conductive metal film is sandwiched between two soft magnetic films, and the two soft magnetic films form a portion of a magnetic path. The thickness of one soft magnetic film is smaller than the thickness of the other soft magnetic film. The electrically conductive metal thin film has a pair of electrodes at respective ends thereof, to which are connected an oscillator for applying a high frequency carrier signal to the electrodes and a high frequency amplifier having a demodulator circuit. Further, an electrically conductive metal film winding is provided, and a DC current is applied to the electrically conductive metal film winding at the time of reproduction, while on the other hand, a signal current is applied to the electrically conductive metal film winding at the time of recording.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive stack for use in a magnetic read head has a plurality of layers including a ferromagnetic free layer, a ferromagnetic pinned layer, and an antiferromagnetic pinning layer. The pinned layer and pinning layer each have a greater number of structural grains than the free layer, which decreases a fluctuation of magnetization in the magnetoresistive stack without decreasing a spatial resolution of the magnetoresistive stack.

Abstract: In a high-frequency impedance type magnetic head having high impedance and capable of efficiently detecting a change in impedance, an electrically conductive metal film is sandwiched between two soft magnetic films, and the two soft magnetic films form a portion of a magnetic path. The thickness of one soft magnetic film is smaller than the thickness of the other soft magnetic film. The electrically conductive metal thin film has a pair of electrodes at respective ends thereof, to which are connected an oscillator for applying a high frequency carrier signal to the electrodes and a high frequency amplifier having a demodulator circuit. Further, an electrically conductive metal film winding is provided, and a DC current is applied to the electrically conductive metal film winding at the time of reproduction, while on the other hand, a signal current is applied to the electrically conductive metal film winding at the time of recording.

Abstract: A pinned layer structure of a spin valve sensor is formed by sputter deposition of cobalt iron (CoFe) in a nitrogen (N2) atmosphere. This method permits a wider range of deposition times of a copper spacer layer to achieve a desirable ferromagnetic coupling field (HF) between the pinned layer structure and a free layer structure in the spin valve sensor.

Abstract: A magnetoresistance effect type memory in and from which information is recorded and reproduced by utilizing a magnetoresistance effect comprises a substrate, a magnetoresistance film provided on the substrate, which comprises a reproducing layer, a memory layer and a non-magnetic layer provided between the reproducing layer and the memory layer, and a magnetization-fixing layer provided on the substrate, which orients a magnetization of the reproducing layer to one direction. In the magnetoresistance effect type memory a conductor wire may be disposed on the magnetoresistance film on a side opposite to the substrate. A recording-reproducing method for the magnetoresistance effect type memory comprises the steps of applying any one of positive and negative electric current pulses to the conductor wire, and detecting a change in resistance of the magnetoresistance film to reproduce information recorded in the memory layer.

Abstract: In a thin-film structure, since a flat face of a bump, which is exposed at the surface of an insulating layer and is to be in contact with an electrode layer, is an exposed surface of a nickel layer, an oxide layer on the flat face can be reliably removed by using ion-milling or sputter etching.