SEED LAYER FOR A NICKEL OXIDE PINNING LAYER FOR INCREASING THE MAGNETORESISTANCE OF A SPIN VALVE SENSOR

摘要

A bottom spin valve sensor employs a seed layer for a nickel oxide (NiO) antiferromagnetic pinning layer for the purpose of increasing magnetoresistance of the sensor (dR/R). The spin valve sensor can be a simple spin valve or an antiparallel (AP) spin valve sensor. In the preferred embodiment the seed layer is tantalum oxide TayOx or copper (Cu).