Patent ID: 8274818

Claim:
A magnetoresistive element comprising; a tunnel magnetoresistive film including: a ferromagnetic free layer; a ferromagnetic pinned layer; a first insulating layer formed between the ferromagnetic free layer and the ferromagnetic pinned layer; a second insulating layer formed on a surface, opposite to a surface on the first insulating layer side, of the ferromagnetic free layer; and a nonmagnetic conductive layer formed on a surface, opposite to a surface on the ferromagnetic free layer side, of the second insulating layer, wherein the tunnel magnetoresistive film is configured so that: when a current is caused to pass in a thickness direction of at least the nonmagnetic conductive layer, the second insulating layer, the ferromagnetic free layer, the first insulating layer, and the ferromagnetic pinned layer, the magnetization of the ferromagnetic free layer is reversed, and when a second current is caused to pass in a thickness direction of at least the ferromagnetic free layer, the first insulating layer, and the ferromagnetic pinned layer, a magnetization direction of the ferromagnetic free layer is detected, and wherein the thickness of the second insulating layer is equal to or greater than 0.5 nm, and wherein the thickness of the first insulating layer is greater than the thickness of the second insulating layer.