Patent ID: 6430012
Filing Date: 2002-08-06
Classification: B82Y,G11B,H01F

Abstract:
A spin valve type magnetoresistance effect film comprising a multilayered film includinga non-magnetic metal layer, a ferromagnetic layer formed on one surface of the non-magnetic metal layer, a soft magnetic layer formed on the other surface of said non-magnetic metal layer, an antiferromagnetic layer which is formed on a surface of said ferromagnetic layer remote from a surface thereof abutting said non-magnetic metal layer so as to pin a direction of magnetization of said ferromagnetic layer, and an antiferromagnetic promote layer formed on a surface of said antiferromagnetic layer remote from a surface thereof abutting said ferromagnetic layer, wherein said ferromagnetic layer is in direct contact with said antiferromagnetic layer, and said antiferromagnetic layer is in direct contact with said antiferromagnetic promote layer, wherein said antiferromagnetic layer is made of a compound containing Mn and having a CuAuâ€”I type regular crystal structure, said antiferromagnetic layer has a characteristic requiring a heat treatment for generating exchange coupling relative to said ferromagnetic layer, and said antiferromagnetic layer after said heat treatment is oriented on a (111) crystal orientation surface, and wherein a ratio Lp/La of a lattice constant Lp in a closest packed surface of said antiferromagnetization promote layer relative to a lattice constant La in the (111) crystal orientation surface of said antiferromagnetic layer is in the range of 0.9 to 1.1.