MAGNETIC SENSOR UTILIZING RASHBA EFFECT IN A TWO-DIMENSIONAL CONDUCTOR

摘要

A magnetic sensor that utilizes Rashba effect to generate spin polarization. The sensor eliminates the need for a pinned layer structure and therefore, greatly reduces the gap thickness of the sensor allowing for greatly improved data density. The sensor includes a two dimensional conductor adjacent to a magnetic free layer, that can also be separated from the free layer by a non-magnetic, electrically insulating barrier layer and that can also be constructed with or without side shields. A current flow through the two-dimensional conductor in a direction parallel with the air bearing surface causes a spin polarization oriented perpendicular to the air bearing surface. The voltage output of the sensor changes with changing magnetization direction of the free layer relative to spin polarization in the two dimensional conductor.