Patent ID: 8625237

Claim:
A magnetic reproduction head comprising: a lower magnetic shield layer; an upper magnetic shield layer; a magnetoresistive film formed between the lower magnetic shield layer and the upper magnetic shield layer; a first refill film in an element height direction disposed in contact with a wall surface opposite a floating surface of the magnetoresistive film; and a second refill film disposed in contact with both wall surfaces of the magnetoresistive film in a track width direction, wherein the magnetoresistive film is a tunneling magnetoresistive film which is formed on the lower magnetic shield in order of a free layer, an insulting barrier layer and a fixed layer; and the insulating barrier layer is formed of an oxide film as one of a magnesium oxide film, an aluminum oxide film, and a titanium oxide film, the oxide film previously includes a total amount more than 1 at % of nitrogen and silicon, before etching to the insulating barrier layer, in order to decrease oxygen loss from both sides of the insulating barrier layer of the magnetoresistive film, the oxygen loss is caused by etching of the insulating barrier layer.