Patent ID: 6501626
Filing Date: 2002-12-31
Classification: B82Y,G11B

Abstract:
A magnetic read head comprising:nonmagnetic nonconductive first and second read gap layers; a spin valve sensor; first and second lead layers connected to the spin valve sensor; the spin valve sensor and the first and second lead layers being located between the first and second read gap layers; ferromagnetic first and second shield layers; the first and second read gap layers being located between the first and second shield layers with the first read gap layer interfacing the first shield layer and the second read gap layer interfacing the second shield layer; the spin valve sensor including: a free layer structure that has a magnetic moment; a ferromagnetic pinned layer structure that has a net magnetic moment; a nonmagnetic conductive spacer layer located between the free layer structure and the pinned layer structure; and at least a portion of the second read gap layer being composed of &agr;Fe2O3 which interfaces the pinned layer structure for pinning the net magnetic moment of the pinned layer structure.