Patent ID: 7785662

Claim:
A method for manufacturing a magnetoresistive element having a magnetization pinned layer, a magnetization free layer, and a spacer layer including an insulating layer and current paths passing through the insulating layer, provided between the magnetization pinned layer and the magnetization free layer, the method comprising, in producing the spacer layer: depositing a first non-magnetic metal layer forming the current paths; depositing a second metal layer to be converted into the insulating layer on the first non-magnetic metal layer; and performing two stages of oxidation treatments in which a partial pressure of an oxidizing gas in a first oxidation treatment is set to 1/10 or less of a partial pressure of an oxidizing gas in a second oxidation treatment, two stages of nitriding treatments in which a partial pressure of a nitriding gas in a first nitriding treatment is set to 1/10 or less of a partial pressure of a nitriding gas in a second nitriding treatment or two stages of oxynitriding treatments in which a partial pressure of an oxynitriding gas in a first oxynitriding treatment is set to 1/10 or less of a partial pressure of an oxynitriding gas in a second oxynitriding treatment, and the second metal layer being irradiated with an ion beam or a RF plasma of a rare gas in the first oxidation treatment, the first nitriding treatment or the first oxynitriding treatment, wherein the first oxidation treatment, the first nitriding treatment or the first oxynitriding treatment serves to convert the second metal layer into an incomplete oxide, an incomplete nitride or an incomplete oxynitride and to suck up the first non-magnetic metal layer in the incomplete oxide, the incomplete nitride or the incomplete oxynitride, and the second oxidation treatment, the second nitriding treatment or the second oxynitriding treatment serves to convert the incomplete oxide, the incomplete nitride or the incomplete oxynitride into the insulating layer.