Patent ID: 6153319
Filing Date: 2000-11-28
Classification: B82Y,G11B,H01F,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A spin-valve thin film element having;an anti-ferromagnetic layer;a pinned magnetic layer formed in direct contact with said anti-ferromagnetic layer having a magnetization direction fixed by an exchange anisotropic magnetic field in correspondence with said anti-ferromagnetic layer;a free magnetic layer formed at least one of over and under said pinned magnetic layer via a non-magnetic conductive layer,a bias layer aligning a magnetization direction of said free magnetic layer along a direction substantially perpendicular to the magnetization direction of said pinned magnetic layer, anda pair of conductive layers through which a sensing current is imparted to the pinned magnetic layer, non-magnetic conductive layer and free magnetic layer, said sensing current operative to sense a recording magnetic field from a recording medium,wherein a saturation magnetostriction constant .lambda.s of the free magnetic layer is in the range of -2.times.10.sup.-6 .ltoreq..lambda.s.ltoreq.0.