Patent ID: 6587316
Filing Date: 2003-07-01
Classification: B82Y,G11B,H01F

Abstract:
A spin valve type thin film magnetic element comprising:a laminated body formed by laminating, on a substrate, at least an antiferromagnetic layer, a pinned magnetic layer formed in contact with the antiferromagnetic layer in which the direction of magnetization is fixed by an exchange coupling magnetic field with the antiferromagnetic layer, and a free magnetic layer formed on the pinned magnetic layer by being separated with a non-magnetic conductive layer, the direction of magnetization of the free magnetic layer being aligned to be approximately perpendicular to the direction of magnetization of the pinned magnetic layer; a bias layer for aligning the direction of magnetization of the free magnetic layer to be approximately perpendicular to the direction of magnetization of the pinned magnetic layer; and an overlay part extending on the surface side of the laminated body from each side toward the center of the laminated body, a pair of electrode layers for flowing a sense current in the laminated body being further provided, wherein the relation represented by the following general equation is valid when the length of the electrode layer vertically extending in the direction from an opposed face to a magnetic recording medium toward the inside of the magnetic element is represented by H1, a sheet resistance of the electrode layer is represented by Rs1, the length of the laminated body vertically extending in the direction from an opposed face to the magnetic recording medium toward the inside of the magnetic element, or the elevation of the magnetic element, is represented by Hg, and the sheet resistance of the laminated body is represented by Rsg: (Rs1/H1)/(Rsg/Hg)&lE;0.02.