Patent ID: 7119996
Filing Date: 2006-10-10
Classification: B82Y,G11B,H01F,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An exchange coupling film comprising an antiferromagnetic layer and a ferromagnetic layer, which are formed in contact with each other so that a magnetization direction of the ferromagnetic layer is pinned in a predetermined direction by an exchange coupling magnetic field produced at an interface between both layers, wherein the antiferromagnetic layer is made of an antiferromagnetic material comprising an element X (at least one element selected from Pt, Pd, Ir, Rh, Ru, and Os) and Mn; and in a section of the exchange coupling film in parallel with a thickness direction thereof, crystal grain boundaries formed in the antiferromagnetic layer and crystal grain boundaries formed in the ferromagnetic layer extend in a nonparallel direction with respect to an interface between the ferromagnetic layer and antiferromagnetic layer and are discontinuous in at least a portion of the interface.