Patent ID: 6905780

Claim:
A magnetoresistive device, comprising: a magnetization pinned layer with a magnetization direction substantially pinned to one direction; a magnetization free layer with a magnetization direction that changes in accordance with an external magnetic field; a nonmagnetic intermediate layer formed between the magnetization pinned layer and the magnetization free layer; and electrodes configured to allow a sense current to flow in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane of a stack including the magnetization pinned layer, the nonmagnetic intermediate layer, and the magnetization free layer, wherein at least one of the magnetization pinned layer and the magnetization free layer comprising a ferromagnetic layer, the ferromagnetic layer being substantially formed of an alloy represented by formula (A) given below: Fe 100-a Co a (A) where 20%≦a≦80%, and the alloy having a body-centered cubic crystal structure.