Patent ID: 7426098

Claim:
A magnetoresistive element comprising: a magnetoresistive film comprising: a buffer layer; an antiferromagnetic layer formed on the buffer layer; a magnetization pinned layer, formed on the antiferromagnetic layer, whose magnetization is substantially pinned to one direction; a nonmagnetic intermediate layer formed on the magnetization pinned layer; and a magnetization free layer, formed on the nonmagnetic intermediate layer, whose magnetization is changed in direction depending on an external magnetic field; and a pair of electrodes electrically connected to the magnetoresistive film so as to supply a sense current in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane of the magnetoresistive film, wherein the buffer layer comprises three layers selected from the group consisting of a Ta layer, (Ni 100-x Fe x ) 100-y Cr y alloy layer (15≦x≦25, 20≦y≦30), (Ni 100-x Fe x ) 100-y Cr y alloy layer (15≦x≦25, 30<y≦45), Cu layer, Ru layer, and Co 100-x Fe x layer (5<x<15), and wherein the nonmagnetic intermediate layer includes at least two elements selected from the group consisting of Al, Cr, Mg, Hf, Zr, Si, Ta, Ti, V, Mo, W, Au, Ag, Cu, Pt, Nb, Re, Pd, B and C, and comprises an insulator formed of an oxide of a part of the elements and current paths penetrating the insulator and formed of another part of the elements, and wherein the magnetization free layer comprises a body-centered cubic layer with a body-centered cubic structure, the body-centered cubic layer having a thickness of 2 nm or more.