Patent ID: 8379351

Claim:
A magneto-resistance effect element, comprising: a bottom electrode; a fixed magnetization layer of which a magnetization is substantially fixed in one direction and which is formed on or above said bottom electrode; a free magnetization layer of which a magnetization is rotated in accordance with an external magnetic field and which is formed opposite to said fixed magnetization layer; a spacer layer including a current confining layer having an insulating layer and a conductor to pass a current through said insulating layer, said insulating layer including oxide, nitride or oxynitride in a thickness direction thereof and which is located between said fixed magnetization layer and said free magnetization layer; a thin film layer which is located on a side opposite to said spacer layer relative to said free magnetization layer; a functional layer formed in or on at least one of said free magnetization layer and said thin film layer, the functional layer containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of Si, Mg, B, Al; and a top electrode formed on or above said free magnetization layer, the top electrode being configured to pass electric current in combination with the bottom electrode.