Patent ID: 7918014

Claim:
A method for fabricating a GMR magnetic read head, comprising: (a) providing a substrate that is a first magnetic shield (S 1 ) and forming thereon a spin valve stack comprised of a pinned layer, free layer, and a non-magnetic spacer formed between the pinned layer and free layer wherein said free layer is a composite film comprised of a lower Fe V Co( 100-V ) layer in which v is from about 20 to 70 atomic %, and an upper Ni W Fe( 100-W ) layer wherein w is from about 90 to 100 atomic %; (b) patterning said spin valve stack to form a spin valve structure having sidewalls and a top surface, said sidewalls are substantially planar along the entire free layer; (c) forming an insulating layer that contacts said sidewalls; and (d) forming a second magnetic shield (S 2 ) on the top surface of the spin valve structure, said second magnetic shield contacts a top surface of said insulating layer.