Patent ID: 7382590

Claim:
A magnetic storage system, comprising: magnetic media, comprising a ferromagnetic recording layer; a second layer anti-ferromagnetically coupled to the recording layer; and an AP coupling layer positioned between the recording layer and the second layer; wherein the AP coupling layer is constructed of a Ru alloy comprising Ru and a ferromagnetic metal at least one head for reading from and writing to the magnetic media, each head having: a sensor, comprising: a free layer; an antiparallel (AP) pinned layer structure spaced apart from the free layer, wherein the AP pinned layer structure includes at least two pinned layers having magnetic moments that are self-pinned antiparallel to each other, the pinned layers being separated by an AP coupling layer, wherein the AP coupling layer is constructed of a Ru alloy, wherein the Ru alloy includes between about 5 and about 40% by weight CoFe; a writer coupled to the sensor; a slider for supporting the head; and a control unit coupled to the head for controlling operation of the head.