Patent ID: 7746602

Claim:
A magnetic read head, comprising: a substrate; a pinning layer deposited over the substrate; a pinned layer deposited over the pinning layer; a reference layer deposited over the pinned layer; a tunneling barrier layer deposited over the reference layer; a free layer deposited over the tunneling barrier layer, wherein the free layer is in contact with the tunneling barrier layer; a back surface opposite an air bearing surface of the magnetic read head, wherein the back surface has been milled from a top side of the magnetic read head opposite the substrate partially through the free layer, thereby creating an exposed face of the free layer which is parallel to the substrate, wherein a first portion of the free layer between the exposed face and the tunneling barrier layer is oxidized, wherein the free layer, tunneling barrier layer, reference layer, pinned layer, and pinning layer have been milled along lateral sides of the magnetic read head which are perpendicular with respect to the back surface, and wherein at least a portion of the lateral sides of the magnetic read head comprise a face of a second portion of the free layer which is not oxidized.