Patent ID: 8484830

Claim:
A method for fabricating a spin valve structure for use as a sensor in a magnetic read head, comprising: (a) providing a substrate and forming thereon a spin valve stack comprised of: (1) an anti-ferromagnetic (AFM) layer that pins an adjacent pinned layer: (2) the pinned layer: (3) a free layer that 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 85 to 100 atomic %; and (4) a non-magnetic spacer formed between the pinned layer and free layer wherein the non-magnetic spacer is comprised of Cu and has a confining current path (CCP) layer formed therein between a lower Cu layer and an upper copper layer, said CCP layer is made of AICu that has been partially oxidized; and (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.