Patent ID: 6353519
Filing Date: 2002-03-05
Classification: B82Y,G01R,G11B,H01F

Abstract:
A spin valve sensor comprising:an antiferromagnetic pinning layer; an antiparallel (AP) pinned layer structure that includes: first and second ferromagnetic layers wherein the first ferromagnetic layer is exchange coupled to the pinning layer and has a magnetic moment pinned in a first direction; a ruthenium spacer layer located between the first and second ferromagnetic layers so that the second ferromagnetic layer has a magnetic moment that is pinned in a second direction that is antiparallel to said first direction; each of the first and second ferromagnetic layers being selected from the group consisting of cobalt iron niobium hafnium (CoFeNbHf), cobalt iron niobium (CoFeNb), cobalt iron hafnium (CoFeHf) and cobalt niobium hafnium (CoNbHf); a nonmagnetic electrically conductive spacer layer; a ferromagnetic free layer that has a magnetic moment that is free to rotate in response to applied fields; and the spacer layer being located between the pinned layer and the free layer.