Patent ID: 7369372

Claim:
An exchange-coupled film comprising a ferromagnetic layer and an antiferromagnetic layer disposed on each other, the magnetization direction of the ferromagnetic layer being pinned in one direction by an exchange coupling magnetic field generated at an interface between the ferromagnetic layer and the antiferromagnetic layer, wherein the antiferromagnetic layer comprises Ir z Mn 100-z (wherein 2 atomic percent≦z≦80 atomic percent); the ferromagnetic layer has a two-layer structure including a Co y Fe 100-y layer having a face-centered cubic structure (wherein 80 atomic percent≦y≦100 atomic percent), the Co y Fe 100-y layer being in contact with the antiferromagnetic layer, and an Fe x Co 100-x layer (wherein x≧30 atomic percent), the Fe x Co 100-x layer being disposed on the Co y Fe 100-y layer; and the thickness of the Fe x Co 100-x layer is 30% to 90% of the total thickness of the ferromagnetic layer.