Patent ID: 7515387

Claim:
A magnetoresistive effect element, comprising: a magnetization fixed layer having a ferromagnetic film whose magnetization direction is fixed substantially in one direction; a magnetization free layer having a ferromagnetic film whose magnetization direction changes according to an external magnetic field; a nonmagnetic intermediate layer having an insulation layer and a conduction part, the insulation layer being interposed between the magnetization fixed layer and the magnetization free layer, and the conduction part being disposed in the insulation layer so as to connect the magnetization fixed layer and the magnetization free layer and made of a nonmagnetic metal material; and a pair of electrodes arranged so as to pass a sense current in a direction substantially perpendicular to film planes of the magnetization fixed layer, the nonmagnetic intermediate layer, and the magnetization free layer, wherein the ferromagnetic film stacked on an upper side of the nonmagnetic intermediate layer, out of the ferromagnetic films constituting the magnetization fixed layer and the magnetization free layer, has a crystalline perpendicular orientation part and a non-perpendicular orientation part, the crystalline perpendicular orientation part being disposed above the conduction part, with crystal growth direction thereof substantially perpendicular to the film plane of the nonmagnetic intermediate layer, and the non-perpendicular orientation part existing in a portion other than the crystalline perpendicular orientation part.