Patent ID: 8018692

Claim:
A thin film magnetic head comprising: a magneto-resistive (MR) effect element comprising: an MR effect film formed by sequentially layering a magnetic pinned layer, a nonmagnetic layer and a free layer; and a pair of bias magnetic field application layers formed at junction tapered parts formed on both end parts of the MR effect film in a width direction via insulating layers, wherein the free layer is configured to change its magnetization direction in accordance with an external magnetic field, a magnetization direction of the magnetic pinned layer is pinned, and the bias magnetic field application layers are configured to apply a vertical bias magnetic field to the free layer, wherein magnetic pinned layer oxidized films of thickness Hx (unit: nm) are disposed on end parts of the magnetic pinned layer at the junction tapered parts, free layer oxidized films of thickness Hf (unit: nm) are disposed on end parts of the free layer at the junction tapered parts, and the oxidized films are configured such that the thickness ratio (Hx/Hf) is not more than 0.5.