Patent ID: 6831817
Filing Date: 2004-12-14
Classification: B82Y,G01R,G11B

Abstract:
A magnetic sensor including a laminate comprising an antiferromagnetic layer, a pinned magnetic layer formed in contact with said antiferromagnetic layer, and a free magnetic layer formed in an opposing relation to said pinned magnetic layer with a nonmagnetic material layer interposed between said free magnetic layer and said pinned magnetic layer,said free magnetic layer being of a multilayered ferri-structure comprising a second magnetic layer formed in contact with an interface between said free magnetic layer and said nonmagnetic material layer, and a first magnetic layer formed in an opposing relation to said second magnetic layer with a nonmagnetic intermediate layer interposed therebetween, said first magnetic layer including an area which contains an element X wherein X represents at least one element selected from among Cr, Ti, V, Zr, Nb, Mo, Hf, Ta and W and which is present in position toward a side of said nonmagnetic intermediate layer from a side near a surface of said first magnetic layer away from an interface between said first magnetic layer and said nonmagnetic intermediate layer, and an area which is partly located in a region from the interface between said first magnetic layer and said nonmagnetic intermediate layer toward the surface of said first magnetic layer away from the interface and which does not contain the element X.