Abstract: A method of manufacturing magnetic recording media with a high areal recording density, in which there write bleeding during magnetic recording is eliminated by reducing insofar as possible the coercive force and remanent magnetization in areas between magnetic tracks, is provided. The method of manufacture can produce magnetic recording media 10, in which a magnetic layer 3 is provided on at least one surface of a nonmagnetic substrate 1, and a magnetically separated magnetic pattern 3a is formed in this magnetic layer 3; by implanting atoms into the magnetic layer 3 with a uniform distribution in the thickness direction of the magnetic layer 3, and partially rendering nonmagnetic the magnetic layer 3, nonmagnetic portions 5 which magnetically separate the magnetic pattern 3a are formed.

Abstract: Magnetic media made using planar magnetic heads. A head may comprise a substrate having conductive thru-hole vias extending therethrough, a first magnetic layer deposited and patterned on the substrate, a first insulation layer deposited and patterned on the first magnetic layer, a conductive coil layer deposited and patterned on the first insulation layer and connected to the conductive thru-hole vias, a second insulation layer deposited and patterned on the conductive coil layer, vias patterned into the insulation layer extending to the first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer deposited in the vias, and a third magnetic layer deposited and patterned on the second insulation layer and second magnetic layer. The third magnetic layer may be connected to the first magnetic layer through the second magnetic layer deposited in the vias of the insulation layers.

Abstract: A heterostructure of multiferroics or magnetoelectrics (ME) was disclosed. The film has both ferromagnetic and ferroelectric properties, as well as magneto-optic (MO) and electro-optic (EO) properties. Oxide buffer layers were employed to allow grown a cracking-free heterostructure a solution coating method.

Abstract: The invention provides a magnetic recording medium, and a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus. The magnetic recording medium includes a substrate 11, an under layer 12 formed on the substrate 11, a magnetic recording layer 13 formed on the under layer 12, and a protective layer 14 formed on the magnetic recording layer 13. The magnetic recording layer 13 is composed of a primary recording layer 14 and a secondary recording layer 15 which are mutually exchange-coupled. The primary recording layer 14 has magnetic grains and a nonmagnetic material that surrounds the magnetic grains, and has a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. The secondary recording layer 15 is made of a material having a negative crystal magnetic anisotropy and its easy plane of the magnetization is a plane of the medium.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a thermally assisted magnetic recording medium, which can overcome resistance against thermal fluctuation at RT and write capability, obtain a drastic temperature variation in coercive force at right below the recording temperature, and be formed at low temperature. In one embodiment, the medium has a layered structure formed of a lower high-KF ferromagnetic (F) layer formed on a substrate, satisfying TW<TC, an intermediate low-KAF antiferromagnetic (AF) layer satisfying TB<TW, and an upper ferromagnetic (F) layer for recording and reproducing, satisfying TW<TC, where TW is a recording temperature, TC is a Curie point, TN is a Neel point, TB is a blocking temperature, KF is a ferromagnetic magnetocrystalline anisotropy constant, and KAF is an antiferromagnetic magnetocrystalline anisotropy constant.

Abstract: A thermally-assisted recording (TAR) patterned-media magnetic recording disk drive has a perpendicular patterned-media disk with multilevel data islands and a laser capable of supplying multiple levels of output power to a near-field transducer (NFT). If there are only two cells in each island, each island is formed of an upper cell of magnetic material with a coercivity HC1 and a Curie temperature TC1, a lower cell of magnetic material with a coercivity HC2 and a Curie temperature TC2 greater than TC1, and a nonmagnetic spacer layer between the two cells. Each cell is formed of high-anisotropy material so as to have an anisotropy field greater than the magnetic write field. The TAR laser is capable of supplying at least two levels of output power to the NFT to allow the islands to be heated to two distinct temperatures so that the two cells in an island can be written so as to have either the same or opposite magnetizations.

Abstract: A magnetic recording device comprising at least one unstructured recording support exhibiting at least one elementary magnetic layer, the recording support having a magnetization perpendicular to the plane of the support characterized in that it comprises magnetic elements having a magnetization perpendicular to the plane of the support and a greater inversion field than the inversion field of the recording support, and which are separated from the recording support by a decoupling layer made of a nonmagnetic material so that the magnetic elements produce a dipolar field in the recording support. The magnetic elements are spaced apart from one another by nonmagnetic regions, each magnetic element defining during a write operation a memory point in the recording support.

Abstract: A thin film structure including a plurality of grains of a first magnetic material having a first Curie temperature embedded in a matrix of a second material having a second Curie temperature, wherein the second Curie temperature is lower than the first Curie temperature and the second material comprises one or more of an oxide, a sulfide, a nitride, and a boride.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a patterned recording medium includes providing a workpiece with a non-magnetic substrate and at least one overlying magnetic layer, laminating a thermal insulation barrier partially in a soft under layer of one of the at least one magnetic layers and forming a topographical pattern including a plurality of trenches in the soft under layer. Blocks of track triplets are formed between adjacent trenches that are magnetically and thermally insulated from other adjacent blocks of track triplets.

Abstract: A magnetic disk is protected by a bilayer. The bilayer is formed as an adhesion enhancing underlayer and a protective diamond-like carbon (DLC) overlayer. The underlayer is formed of an aluminum or alloyed aluminum oxynitride, having the general formula AlOxNy or MezAlOxNy where Mez symbolizes Tiz, Siz or Crz and where x, y and z can be varied within the formation process. By adjusting the values of x and y the adhesion underlayer contributes to such qualities of the protective bilayer as stress compensation, chemical and mechanical stability and low electrical conductivity. Various methods of forming the underlayer are provided, including reactive ion sputtering, plasma assisted chemical vapor deposition, pulsed laser deposition and plasma immersion ion implantation.

Abstract: A magnetic material is disclosed including a two-dimensional array of carbon atoms and a two-dimensional array of nanoholes patterned in the two-dimensional array of carbon atoms. The magnetic material has long-range magnetic ordering at a temperature below a critical temperature Tc.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium includes recording regions formed on a substrate, isolation regions formed between the recording regions so as to define the recording regions, and recording dots formed of a dot-like magnetic recording layer and arrayed in the recording regions, the recording dots including first recording dots arrayed in a line in each edge part of each recording region along the isolation region and second recording dots arrayed into a regular lattice in a central part of each recording region. A distance between a first recording dot and a second recording dot which are nearest neighboring is larger than a distance between second recording dots which are nearest neighboring.

Abstract: Provided are an information storage device using movement of a magnetic domain wall, and methods of manufacturing and operating the information storage device. The information storage device includes a storage track having magnetic domains and a writer for recording data to the storage track, wherein the writer comprises: a first magnetic layer and a second magnetic layer that is formed to cover a portion of the first magnetic layer and has a smaller magnetic anisotropic energy than the first magnetic layer.

Abstract: A method and system for reading readback waveforms representing written magnetization states of a pair of magnetic islands of a two-level patterned magnetic recording medium, and a structure that include a multi-level patterned magnetic medium. Reading the readback waveform representing the written magnetization state includes: identifying the written magnetization state by decoding the readback waveform; and displaying and/or recording the written magnetization state. The magnetic medium of the structure includes distributed pillars. Each pillar includes a first and second magnetic island. Each magnetic island has a magnetic easy axis oriented at a first tilt angle (?1) and a second tilt angle (?2), wherein ?1 and ?2 satisfy: ?1??2, either or both of ?1 and ?2 differing from 0, 90, 180, and 270 degrees, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium is formed by stacking in order, on a nonmagnetic base, at least an underlayer, magnetic recording layer, and protective layer. The magnetic recording layer includes a plurality of magnetic layers and an exchange-coupling control layer, and the magnetic recording medium is characterized in that a physical pattern is formed in the exchange-coupling control layer. The exchange-coupling control layer is located between the magnetic layers of the magnetic recording layer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention help to provide a discrete track medium for realizing a high track density in a low price by adopting a configuration, in which filling of a non-magnetic material into a guard band portion and smoothing processing of a medium surface are not required. According to one embodiment, a perpendicular magnetic recording medium, on the non-magnetic substrate, includes at least: a soft magnetic underlayer; a first recording layer including a crystal grain having a magnetic property and a non-magnetic grain boundary having an oxide, as a main component, surrounding the crystal grain; a second recording layer containing a ferromagnetic metal as a main component and not containing an oxide; and at least one non-magnetic layer provided between the first recording layer and the second recording layer.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording medium includes: a substrate; at least one underlayer formed above the substrate; and a perpendicular magnetic recording layer formed above the at least one underlayer, an easy magnetization axis of the perpendicular magnetic recording layer being oriented perpendicular to the substrate, the perpendicular magnetic recording layer including magnetic crystal particles and grain boundaries surrounding the magnetic crystal particles, wherein the grain boundaries contain an oxide of silicon and at least one element selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Ca, Sr, and Ba, and the ratio of a total amount of substance of Si, Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Ca, Sr, and Ba in the perpendicular magnetic recording layer is no less than 1 mol % and no more than 20 mol %.

Abstract: A recordable magnetic media includes a servo pattern having a plurality of adjacent alternating magnetic and nonmagnetic material stripes. At least some of the magnetic material stripes have magnetic transitions that define encoded data.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a perpendicular magnetic recording media having excellent resolution, signal to noise ratio (S/N), and a small adjacent track erasure. According to one embodiment, underlayers for controlling the orientation and segregation of a magnetic layer, a magnetic layer including an oxide and an alloy of magnetic materials mainly composed of Co, Cr, and Pt, and a ferromagnetic-metal layer which does not contain oxygen, are formed over a substrate. The magnetic layer has at least two layers including ferromagnetic grains and oxides, a first magnetic layer, which is the part of the magnetic layer closer to the substrate, has grain boundaries mainly composed of Cr oxide and at least one oxide selected from Si, Ti, Nb, and Ta, and grain boundaries of a second magnetic layer at the ferromagnetic-metal layer side includes at least one oxide selected from Si, Ti, Nb, and Ta in which Cr oxide is less than the first magnetic layer.

Abstract: A magnetic device having a magnetic feature, the magnetic feature including magnetic portions, a stop layer portion on each magnetic portion, and a region of non-magnetic material adjacent to the magnetic portions and the stop layer portions, where the stop layer portions define planar upper boundaries for the magnetic portions and an endpoint in planarization of the magnetic feature.

Abstract: A magnetic-recording medium which is provided on a nonmagnetic substrate with at least an orientation-controlling layer for controlling the orientation of a layer formed directly thereon, a perpendicularly magnetic layer having an easily magnetizing axis oriented mainly perpendicularly relative to the nonmagnetic substrate, and a protective layer. The perpendicularly magnetic layer includes two or more magnetic layers, at least one of the magnetic layers is a layer having Co as a main component and containing Pt as well and containing an oxide, and at least another of the magnetic layers is a layer having Co as a main component and containing Cr as well and containing no oxide.

Abstract: An information storage device includes a record head and a data recording medium. The record head includes a magnetic substance having magnetic domain walls and records data in the data recording medium. In a method of operating the information storage device, a first high frequency current or a high frequency magnetic field is supplied to the magnetic substance while magnetic domain walls of the magnetic substance are moved.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a multilayered underlayer including a first underlayer containing Cu aligned in a (111) plane and a second underlayer formed on the Cu underlayer and containing Cu and nitrogen as main components is formed.

Abstract: A patterned media has a substrate, and a magnetic recording layer on the substrate including protruded magnetic patterns and a nonmagnetic material filled in between the protruded magnetic patterns. In the patterned media, a depth Db and a depth Da, which are defined that Db is a depth from a surface of the magnetic patterns to a surface of the nonmagnetic material filled in a first central part between the magnetic patterns adjacent to each other in a cross-track direction or a down-track direction, and Da is a depth from a surface of the magnetic patterns to a surface of the nonmagnetic material filled in a second central part in a portion surrounded by the magnetic patterns, have a relationship that the depth Da is greater than the depth Db.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a perpendicular magnetic recording medium is provided which is capable of improving fineness of a particle diameter and vertical orientation of a perpendicular magnetic recording layer, improving corrosion resistance of the magnetic recording medium, and recording and reproducing high-density information.

Abstract: A patterned perpendicular magnetic recording disk has a pre-patterned disk substrate with pillars and trenches arranged in data regions and servo regions. In the data regions, the height of the data pillars is equal to or greater than the spacing between the data pillars, while in the servo regions the height of the servo pillars is less than the spacing between the servo pillars. A magnetic recording material with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy is deposited over the entire disk substrate, which results in magnetic material on the tops of the data pillars and servo pillars and in the servo trenches. The material in the data trenches is either nonmagnetic or discontinuous. After the application of a high DC magnetic field in one perpendicular direction and a low DC magnetic field in the opposite direction, the resulting disk has patterned servo sectors with servo pillars all magnetized in the same perpendicular direction and servo trenches magnetized in the opposite perpendicular direction.

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a hexagonal ferrite magnetic powder comprising preparing a melt by melting a starting material mixture comprising a hexagonal ferrite-forming component and a glass-forming component; rapidly cooling the melt to obtain an amorphous material comprising 0.3 to 2.0 weight percent of carbon atoms; heating the amorphous material to a temperature range of 580 to 700° C. and maintaining the amorphous material within the temperature range to precipitate hexagonal ferrite magnetic particles; and collecting the hexagonal ferrite magnetic particles precipitated.

Abstract: The present invention provides a highly reliable patterned medium without generating an error in recording and reproduction, and a magnetic disc memory device using the same. The patterned medium has a substrate, a soft magnetic layer, a non-magnetic layer, an intermediate layer and a recording layer. The recording layer has a pattern structure of a non-magnetic material and a magnetic material, and the Young's modulus of the non-magnetic material is larger than the Young's modulus of the magnetic material.

Abstract: A storage apparatus is provided. A storage apparatus can include a storage device having one or more unique device identifiers disposed in, on, or about the storage apparatus. One or more computer readable and writeable data storage areas can be disposed in, on, or about the storage apparatus. One or more computer readable data storage areas can also be disposed in, on, or about the storage apparatus. One or more computer readable instruction sets can be disposed in, on, or about the storage apparatus. The execution of all or a portion of the one or more computer readable instruction sets can be contingent upon the successful authentication of all or a portion of the one or more device identifiers.

Abstract: A magnetic data storage cell, applicable to spin-torque random access memory (ST-RAM), is disclosed. A magnetic cell includes first and second fixed magnetic layers and a free magnetic layer positioned between the fixed magnetic layers. The magnetic cell also includes terminals configured for providing a spin-polarized current through the magnetic layers. The first fixed magnetic layer has a magnetization direction that is substantially parallel to the easy axis of the free magnetic layer, and the second fixed magnetic layer has a magnetization direction that is substantially orthogonal to the easy axis of the free magnetic layer. The dual fixed magnetic layers provide enhanced spin torque in writing to the free magnetic layer, thereby reducing the required current and reducing the feature size of magnetic data storage cells, and increasing the data storage density of magnetic spin torque data storage.

Abstract: A thin film structure comprises a first layer including a first plurality of grains of magnetic material having a first intergranular exchange coupling, and a second layer positioned adjacent to the first layer and including a second plurality of grains of magnetic material having a second intergranular exchange coupling, wherein the second intergranular exchange coupling is larger than the first intergranular exchange coupling and wherein the Curie temperature of the first layer is greater than the Curie temperature of the second layer. A data storage system including the thin film structure is also provided.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a magnetic recording medium (30) having magnetically separate magnetic recording patterns on at least one surface of a nonmagnetic substrate (1), includes the steps of forming a magnetic layer (2) on the nonmagnetic substrate, forming a mask layer (3) on the magnetic layer, forming a resist layer (4) on the mask layer, transferring negative patterns of the magnetic recording patterns to the resist layer using a stamp (5), removing portions of the mask layer which correspond to the negative patterns of the magnetic recording patterns, implanting ions in the magnetic layer from a resist layer-side surface to partly demagnetize the magnetic layer, and removing the resist layer and the mask layer.

Abstract: A magnetic storage medium includes: burst lines each including magnetic bodies placed in a nonmagnetic body in a predetermined repetitive pattern repeated in the radial direction, the burst lines arranged in the circumferential direction at predetermined intervals, wherein the phases of the predetermined repetitive patterns are shifted in the radial direction relative to a circumferential line at least between the adjacent ones of the burst lines.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for fabricating a patterned media imprint master. A substrate and a deposition mask may be fixably attached by an intervening spacing element, such that the substrate and deposition mask act as a unified element during a deposition process. A deposition mask may include a plurality of apertures generated by a conventional lithographic process. Material may be deposited onto the substrate through the deposition mask from more than one deposition source oriented at a unique deposition angle. A resulting substrate deposition pattern thus exhibits a density greater than a deposition mask aperture density while avoiding deposition pattern distortion.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a patterned recording medium includes providing a workpiece with a non-magnetic substrate and at least one overlying magnetic layer, laminating a thermal insulation barrier partially in a soft under layer of one of the at least one magnetic layers and forming a topographical pattern including a plurality of trenches in the soft under layer. Blocks of track triplets are formed between adjacent trenches that are magnetically and thermally insulated from other adjacent blocks of track triplets.

Abstract: Magnetic media made using planar magnetic heads. A head may comprise a substrate having conductive thru-hole vias extending therethrough, a first magnetic layer deposited and patterned on the substrate, a first insulation layer deposited and patterned on the first magnetic layer, a conductive coil layer deposited and patterned on the first insulation layer and connected to the conductive thru-hole vias, a second insulation layer deposited and patterned on the conductive coil layer, vias patterned into the insulation layer extending to the first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer deposited in the vias, and a third magnetic layer deposited and patterned on the second insulation layer and second magnetic layer. The third magnetic layer may be connected to the first magnetic layer through the second magnetic layer deposited in the vias of the insulation layers.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention relates to a perpendicular magnetic recording medium comprising (1) a substrate, (2) an interlayer comprising hexagonal columns and (3) a magnetic layer, wherein the magnetic layer is deposited applying a bias voltage to the substrate such that the magnetic layer comprises magnetic grains having substantially no sub-grains within the magnetic layer, and the magnetic layer has perpendicular magnetic anisotropy.

Abstract: A nano structure having pore array structures in which a plurality of periodic arrays are formed adjacent to one another and a method of manufacturing the nano structure are provided. A nano structure having periodic array structures of pores formed in an anodized oxide film with a plurality of types of the periodic array structures arranged adjacent to one another is provided. Furthermore, a method of manufacturing a nano structure in which a plurality of periodic array structures formed in an anodized oxide film having different periods are arranged adjacent to one another, including (1) a step of forming pore starting points made up of a plurality of types of periodic arrays on the surface of a substrate comprised of aluminum as a principal component and (2) a step of anodizing the substrate simultaneously at the same anodization voltage is provided.

Abstract: Perpendicular magnetic recording media and methods of fabricating perpendicular magnetic recording media are described. The perpendicular magnetic recording medium of one embodiment includes an interlayer, an underlayer, and a perpendicular magnetic recording layer. The interlayer is comprised of a Ni-alloy having the characteristics of being nonmagnetic and having an FCC structure. The alloying element for the Ni-alloy may comprise one of V or Cr, or may comprise one of V, Cr, or W. The concentration of the alloying element is set such that the concentration of the alloying element is high enough to make the Ni-alloy non-magnetic, while low enough to maintain an FCC structure for the Ni-alloy.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium is provided with a first magnetic layer, a nonmagnetic coupling layer provided on the first magnetic layer, and a second magnetic layer provided on the nonmagnetic coupling layer. The first and second magnetic layers are exchange-coupled, and have magnetization directions which are mutually parallel in a state where no external magnetic field is applied thereto, and the first magnetic layer switches the magnetization direction thereof before the second magnetic layer in response to a recording magnetic field which switches the magnetization directions of the first and second magnetic layers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is described for gradually transitioning a slider from operation over a patterned data zone to landing on a patterned CSS zone. The ratio of raised area width to recessed area width of a pattern in a transition zone and/or CSS zone may be varied across the radial dimension of the disk. By changing the ratio of raised area width to recessed area width of the pattern in the transition from slider operation over the data zone to landing in the CSS zone, it is possible to gradually change the height of the slider from flying to non-flying conditions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a master disk with high flexibility and high close contact property with a slave disk to be transferred, which bears information to be transferred by magnetic transfer. When incident angle of X-ray is designated by ?, electroforming is performed such that X-ray diffraction pattern of the master substrate 11 has a 200 plane reflection at 2?=51.0° to 53.0°, and a 220 plane reflection at 2?=75.5° to 76.5°, and the reflection intensity ratio of X-ray diffraction of the 220 plane with respect to the 200 plane is I[220]/I[200]=2 to 30.

Abstract: Information storage devices are provided. An information storage device includes a track including at least one Co alloy layer and a soft magnetic layer. The track further includes a plurality of magnetic domains. A current applying element is connected to the track. The track includes a plurality of layers stacked alternately.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a perpendicular magnetic recording medium capable of reconciling a high recording density with high thermal stability, and having a high write-ability while maintaining high magnetic anisotropy energy. In one embodiment, a perpendicular magnetic recording medium has a soft-magnetic underlayer, and magnetic recording layers, and the magnetic recording layers comprises a first recording layer containing magnetic grains oriented in a direction normal to a medium plane, and a second recording layer containing magnetic grains tilted in a cross-track direction. There can be provided a perpendicular magnetic recording medium resistant to thermal fluctuation, small in medium noise, and excellent in write-ability.

Abstract: Provided is an information storage medium using a ferroelectric, including a substrate having an amorphous crystal structure, an electrode layer formed on the substrate, and a ferroelectric layer in a (001) direction formed on the electrode layer.

Abstract: Provided are a patterned magnetic recording medium and a method of self servo writing in which servo information is written on the patterned magnetic recording medium. The patterned magnetic recording medium includes: a data sector including a plurality of magnetic recording regions spaced apart from one another, wherein the magnetic recording regions constitute a plurality of tracks which are each shaped like a ring; and a servo sector on which servo information regarding the tracks is capable of being written along the tracks, wherein only to a part of the tracks of the servo sector, servo information regarding the part of the tracks is written in the form of a physical servo pattern which is formed by physically patterning a magnetic recording layer.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium is provided that includes a recording layer having recording elements formed as convex portions and a filling material filled within the concave portions between the recording elements. The medium is highly reliable and has a surface less liable to damages when a magnetic head contacts the surface, so that good recording/reproducing characteristics are ensured. The magnetic recording medium includes a recording layer formed in a predetermined concavo-convex pattern over a substrate and having recording elements formed as convex portions in the concavo-convex pattern and a filling material filled within the concave portions between the recording elements. The filling material is substantially composed of Si and O, and the ratio of the number of O atoms to the number of Si atoms is equal to or more than 1.5 and less than 2.

Abstract: In a magnetic recording medium which is able to cope with a higher recording density, there is provided a magnetic recording medium which has a higher retentivity and a lower noise, a production process thereof, and a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus. The magnetic recording medium is characterized in that at least a non-magnetic base layer, a non-magnetic intermediate layer, a magnetic layer, and a protective layer are laminated in this order on a non-magnetic substrate, and at least one of the layers of the non-magnetic base layer is configured by a WX-based alloy or a MoX-based alloy (X?Zr, Nb, Hf, Ta).

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording medium having a substrate, an amorphous soft underlayer of thickness 30 nm or greater, and a granular magnetic recording layer for perpendicular recording is disclosed. The granular magnetic recording layer includes a non-magnetic region between magnetic grains, wherein the non-magnetic region includes metal nitride or metal carbide and provides exchange decoupling between the magnetic grains. The perpendicular recording medium of this invention reduces DC noise and increases media signal-to-noise ratio; it reduces surface roughness, which in turn reduces the head-to-media spacing and the head-to-amorphous soft underlayer spacing.

Abstract: A longitudinal magnetic recording medium having a high medium S/N, with no problems in view of the overwrite characteristic, excellent in the bit error rate and sufficiently stable also to thermal fluctuations is provided. In one embodiment, a first underlayer, second underlayer, and a third underlayer are formed on a substrate and, further, a first magnetic layer, a spacer layer including Ru as a main ingredient, a second magnetic layer, and a third magnetic layer are formed in adjacent with each other in this order. The thickness of the second magnetic layer is made larger than the thickness of the third magnetic layer and the total for the concentrations of cobalt and platinum obtained in the second magnetic layer is not more than the total for the concentrations of cobalt and platinum contained in the third magnetic layer.