Patent ID: 7054120

Claim:
A magnetic apparatus, comprising: a perpendicular magnetic recording medium; and a magnetic head including a reproducing element arranged to perform reproduction from the perpendicular magnetic recording medium, wherein said reproducing element has a magnetic-resistance element including a first non-magnetic metal layer, a second non-magnetic metal layer, and a magneto-resistance effect film formed between the first non-magnetic metal layer and the second non-magnetic metal layer, said magneto-resistance effect film includes a first ferromagnetic layer, a second ferromagnetic layer, an intermediate insulating layer formed between the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer, and an anti-ferromagnetic layer formed between the second ferromagnetic layer and the second non-magnetic metal layer, and said magneto-resistance effect film is arranged so that a tunnel current flows between the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer through the intermediate insulating layer.