Patent ID: 7738218

Claim:
A magnetic detection element comprising: a pinned magnetic layer whose magnetic direction is fixed in one direction; and a free magnetic layer that is formed on the pinned magnetic layer with a nonmagnetic material layer interposed therebetween and whose magnetization direction is varied due an external magnetic field, wherein the free magnetic layer includes a laminate composed of a CoMnX alloy layer formed from a metal compound represented by a compositional formula Co a Mn b X c (where X represents at least one of Ge, Ga, In, Si, Pb, Zn, and Sb and a+b+c=100 atomic percent) and a CoMnZ alloy layer formed from a metal compound represented by a compositional formula Co d Mn e Z f (where Z represents at least one of Sn and Al and d+e+f=100 atomic percent), wherein the laminate is formed with a lamination of at least three layers including the CoMnX alloy layer and the CoMnZ alloy layer.