Patent ID: 8617408

Claim:
A method for manufacturing a magnetic read sensor comprising: forming a magnetic shield; depositing a series of sensor layers over the magnetic shield; forming an amorphous carbon mask over the series of sensor layers, the amorphous carbon mask having first and second openings at first and second sides of a central trackwidth defining portion, the first and second openings and central trackwidth defining portion defining a sensor area; performing a first ion milling to remove portions of the series of sensor layers that are exposed through the openings in the amorphous carbon layer; depositing a non-magnetic, electrically insulating material followed by a magnetic material; forming a photoresist mask over the sensor area; performing a second ion milling to remove portions of the non-magnetic, electrically insulating material and the magnetic material that are not protected by the photoresist mask; removing the photoresist mask; performing a third ion milling to remove the non-magnetic, electrically insulating material and the magnetic material from side portions of the amorphous carbon layer; and performing a reactive ion etching to remove the remaining amorphous carbon layer.