Patent ID: 8524094

Claim:
A method for producing a tunneling magnetoresistive element having a tunneling magnetoresistive structure which comprises an insulating layer sandwiched between two ferromagnetic layers of a pin layer and a free layer, wherein the tunneling magnetoresistive structure has a protective film formed thereon, the method comprising: forming a mask on a surface of a laminate of the tunneling magnetoresistive structure, wherein the mask comprises a tantalum metal having a specific physical property that its melting point or boiling point increases when the tantalum metal is converted into a nitride or carbide; and dry etching the laminate, the mask being formed on the surface thereof, using a mixed gas comprising carbon monoxide and a nitrogenous compound as etching gas to form the tunneling magnetoresistive structure; wherein the mask including tantalum remains on the surface of the tunneling magnetoresistive structure after the dry etching, and the mask including tantalum is configured to be the protective film of the tunneling magnetoresistive structure after the dry etching.