Patent ID: 8891208

Claim:
A magnetoresistive effect element (MR element) with a current-perpendicular-to-plane (CPP) structure, comprising a magnetoresistive effect part (MR part), and a first shield layer and a second shield layer that are formed by lamination so as to interpose the MR part, and in which a sense current is applied in the lamination direction, wherein the MR part comprises a nonmagnetic intermediate layer, and a first ferromagnetic layer and a second ferromagnetic layer formed by lamination so as to interpose the nonmagnetic intermediate layer from upper and lower sides; the first shield layer and the second shield layer respectively have an inclining magnetization structure of which a magnetization is inclined with regard to a track width direction; the first ferromagnetic layer is directly or indirectly and magnetically coupled with the first shield layer; the second ferromagnetic layer is directly or indirectly and magnetically coupled with the second shield layer; a magnetization direction adjustment layer composed of a magnetic body for adjusting magnetization directions of the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer is positioned at rear end surface sides of the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer, the rear end surface side is an opposite side of a front end surface receiving a magnetic field to be detected in the MR part; the magnetization direction adjustment layer has a first magnetization direction adjustment layer positioned at the rear end surface side of the first ferromagnetic layer and a second magnetization direction adjustment layer positioned at the rear end surface side of the second ferromagnetic layer; and an insulating layer is positioned between the first magnetization direction adjustment layer and the second magnetization direction adjustment layer.