Patent ID: 8547737

Claim:
A magnetoresistive element comprising: a first ferromagnetic layer having an axis of easy magnetization in a direction perpendicular to a film plane; a second ferromagnetic layer having an axis of easy magnetization in a direction perpendicular to the film plane; a tunnel barrier layer placed between the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer; and a first interfacial magnetic layer placed between the first ferromagnetic layer and the tunnel barrier layer, the first interfacial magnetic layer including a first interfacial magnetic film which is (Co x Fe 100-x ) 100-z B z (x>75 atomic %, 0<z≦30 atomic %), a second interfacial magnetic film placed between the first interfacial magnetic film and the tunnel barrier layer and being (Co y Fe 100-y ) 100-w B w (y≦75 atomic %, 0<w≦30 atomic %), and a first nonmagnetic film placed between the first interfacial magnetic film and the second interfacial magnetic film and containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ta, W, Nb, V, Si, and Zr.