Patent ID: 8174800

Claim:
A magnetoresistive element comprising: an antiferromagnetic layer; a layered magnetization fixed layer adjacent to the antiferromagnetic layer; a first nonmagnetic intermediate layer adjacent to the layered magnetization fixed layer; and a magnetic free layer adjacent to the first nonmagnetic intermediate layer, wherein the antiferromagnetic layer includes manganese, wherein the layered magnetization fixed layer includes: a first ferromagnetic layer and a second ferromagnetic layer provided beside the antiferromagnetic layer; a third ferromagnetic layer and a fourth ferromagnetic layer provided beside the first nonmagnetic intermediate layer; and a second nonmagnetic intermediate layer provided in between the second ferromagnetic layer and the third ferromagnetic layer, wherein the first ferromagnetic layer includes an alloy as specified by the equation (1), wherein the second ferromagnetic layer, the third ferromagnetic layer, and the fourth ferromagnetic layer include an alloy as specified by the equation (2), wherein the equation (1) is (Fe a Co b Ni c ) d (M) e , wherein 0≦a<100, 0≦b<100, 0≦c<100, a+b+c=100, 99.5≧d≧50, 0.5≦e≦50, d+e=100; M represents a platinum group metal, and wherein the equation (2) is (Fe x Co y Ni z ) m (B) n , wherein 0≦x≦100, 0≦y≦100, 0≦z<100, x+y+z=100, m+n=100, 0≦n<30, 70<m≦100; B represents boron.