Patent ID: 7583480

Claim:
A magnetoresistance effect element comprising: a free layer; a pinned layer; and at least one nano-junction between said free layer and said pinned layer, a non-magnetic layer formed between said free layer and said pinned layer in a portion other than said at least one nano-junction; wherein said at least one nano-junction includes a constituent material and at least one non-metal selected from the group consisting of oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur and chlorine, wherein said constituent material of said nano-junction comprises one of a ferromagnetic metal and a halfmetal, and wherein said non-metal is contained in said constituent material of said nano-junction so that said non-metal is not localized, or said non-metal in an atomic state or in a state of a non-metallic compound containing said non-metal is present in grain boundaries of crystal grains, which forms said nano-junction.