Magnetoresistive sensor containing self-pinned layer containing a plurality of magnetic sublayers with magnetostriction-enhancing layer made of a nonmagnetic material

摘要

A first magnetic sublayer constituting a pinned magnetic layer is provided in contact with a first magnetostriction-enhancing layer to increase the magnetostriction constant of the first magnetic sublayer. In addition, a nonmagnetic intermediate sublayer constituting the pinned magnetic layer is made of a material having a lattice constant larger than that of Ru, such as a Ru—X alloy, to distort the crystal structures of the first magnetic sublayer and a second magnetic sublayer each in contact with the nonmagnetic intermediate sublayer, increasing the magnetostriction constants of the first magnetic sublayer and the second magnetic sublayer.