Patent ID: 6181537
Filing Date: 2001-01-30
Classification: B82Y,G11B

Abstract:
A tunnel junction read head, which has an air bearing surface (ABS), comprising:a tunnel junction sensor that includes:an electrically conductive antiferromagnetic pinning layer;an electrically conductive ferromagnetic amorphous pinned layer, the amorphous pinned layer having a magnetic moment in a first direction;an electrically conductive ferromagnetic crystalline pinned layer located between the pinning layer and the amorphous pinned layer, the crystalline pinned layer being exchange coupled to the crystalline pinning layer so as to pin the pinned layer magnetic moment in said first direction;an electrically conductive ferromagnetic amorphous free layer, the amorphous free layer having a magnetic moment in a second direction; anda non-magnetic electrically insulating barrier layer located between the amorphous pinned layer and the amorphous free layer.