Magnetoresistive head including magnetoresistive effect film of fixed layer, non-magnetic layer, insulating barrier layer and free layer, and magnetic recording device with magnetoresistive head

摘要

A magnetoresistive head is provided with high reliability and produced at a high yield rate. The magnetoresistive head includes a lower magnetic shield layer, an upper magnetic shield layer, a magnetoresistive effect film, and means for causing a current to flow in the direction of the thickness of the magnetoresistive effect film. The magnetoresistive effect film is provided between the lower magnetic shield layer and the upper magnetic shield layer. The magnetoresistive effect film is composed of a fixed layer, a non-magnetic layer, an insulating barrier layer and a free layer. The four layers of the magnetoresistive effect film are formed in this order. The insulating barrier layer is an oxide layer containing at least one of titanium and nickel.