Patent ID: 7684160
Filing Date: 2010-03-23
Classification: G11B,H01F,H01L

Abstract:
1. A magnetoresistive structure comprising: a pinned layer; a spacer layer that is nonmagnetic; a free layer, the spacer layer residing between the pinned layer and the free layer; a specular layer adjoining the free layer such that the free layer and specular layer share an interface, the free layer residing between the spacer layer and the specular layer, the specular layer including at least one of titanium oxide, yttrium oxide, hafnium oxide, magnesium oxide, aluminum oxide, nickel oxide, iron oxide, zirconium oxide, niobium oxide, and tantalum oxide; a barrier layer, the barrier layer being nonmagnetic, the barrier layer including a first material; and a capping layer including a second material different from the first material, the barrier layer residing between the specular oxide layer and the capping layer.