Patent ID: 8154915

Claim:
A magnetoresistive element comprising: a magnetization reference layer having magnetization substantially perpendicular to a film plane, a direction of the magnetization being invariable; a magnetization free layer having magnetization substantially perpendicular to the film plane, a direction of the magnetization being variable; and an intermediate layer provided between the magnetization reference layer and the magnetization free layer, at least one of the magnetization reference layer and the magnetization free layer including: a first film formed in contact with the intermediate layer, and comprising a first magnetic material; a second film formed in contact with the first film on the opposite side from the intermediate layer, and including at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ta, W, Mo, Nb, Ti, Hf, and Zr; and a third film formed on the opposite side of the second film from the first film, the third film comprising a second magnetic material, the second magnetic material having magnetization substantially perpendicular to a film plane, being exchange-coupled to the first film, having a face-centered cubic structure, and comprising a (111) oriented plane, the magnetization direction of the magnetization free layer being variable by flowing a current between the magnetization reference layer and the magnetization free layer via the intermediate layer.