Patent ID: 6700757
Filing Date: 2004-03-02
Classification: B82Y,G11B,Y10T

Abstract:
A magnetic read head comprising:nonmagnetic nonconductive first and second read gap layers; a spin valve sensor located between the first and second read gap layers; ferromagnetic first and second shield layers; and the first and second read gap layers being located between the first and second shield layers; the spin valve sensor including: a ferromagnetic pinned layer that has a magnetic moment; a platinum manganese pinning layer exchange coupled to the pinned layer for pinning the magnetic moment of the pinned layer structure; a free layer; a nonmagnetic conductive spacer layer located between the free layer and the pinned layer; a capping layer; the free layer being located between the spacer layer and the capping layer; the free layer having an oxidized film portion and an unoxidized film portion with the oxidized film portion being located between the unoxidized film portion and the capping layer; the unoxidized film portion of the free layer being a nickel iron film and the oxidized film portion of the free layer being a nickel iron oxide film; a copper layer located between the oxidized film portion of the free layer and the capping layer; first and second seed layers with the first seed layer being composed of nickel manganese oxide and the second seed layer being composed of tantalum; the second seed layer being located between the first seed layer and the pinning layer; and the first read gap layer being composed of aluminum oxide.