Patent ID: 7160572
Filing Date: 2007-01-09
Classification: B82Y,G11B,H01F,H01L,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for manufacturing a spin tunnel magnetoresistive effect film, comprising: providing at least a structure of a lower electrode layer, an anti-ferromagnetic thin film, a first magnetic thin film, a tunnel barrier layer, a second magnetic thin film, and an upper electrode layer, each being successively laminated, wherein an exchange coupling magnetic field of said first magnetic thin film in accordance with said anti-ferromagnetic thin film is Hr, a coercivity of said second magnetic thin film is Hc2, and said Hr and Hc2 satisfy the relationship of Hc2<Hr; and providing an underlayer disposed between said lower electrode layer and said anti-ferromagnetic thin film and made of Ta, Zr, Hf, or an alloy thereof, the average surface height unevenness of said anti-ferromagnetic thin film on said underlayer being in the range from 0.1 to 5 Angstroms, wherein controlling average surface roughness forms said tunnel barrier layer by introducing gas having nitrogen, hydrogen or a gas mixture thereof at a pressure in a range from 10