Patent ID: 7931976

Claim:
A magnetic recording element comprising a multilayer including a surface and a pair of electrodes, the multilayer including: a first magnetic layer whose magnetization is substantially fixed in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the surface; a second magnetic layer whose magnetization is substantially fixed in a second direction opposite to the first direction substantially perpendicular to the surface; a third magnetic layer provided between the first and the second magnetic layers, a direction of magnetization of the third magnetic layer being variable; a first intermediate layer provided between the first and the third magnetic layers; and a second intermediate layer provided between the second and the third magnetic layers, wherein the pair of electrodes is capable of supplying an electric current to flow in a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface of the multilayer and the sectional area of the first magnetic layer taken parallel to the surface at a thickness midpoint of the first magnetic layer is larger than the sectional area of the second magnetic layer taken parallel to the surface at a thickness midpoint of the second magnetic layer; and wherein at least one of the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer includes a sidewall portion magnetically softer than an inside portion thereof.