Electrical lead structures having crystalline structures that match underlying magnetic hard bias layers for magnetoresistive sensors

摘要

A magnetic head including an electrical lead layer that is comprised of a material having an ordered crystalline structure. In a preferred embodiment, the ordered crystalline structure of the electrical lead is epitaxially matched to the crystalline structure of the hard bias layer upon which it is formed, and there is no need for a seed layer for the electrical leads. Electrical leads having an ordered crystalline structure, particularly a B2, L1₀, L1₁, L1₂ and D0₃ structure, will have significantly reduced resistivity over the prior art electrical leads that are typically composed of rhodium or tantalum. As a result, thinner electrical leads can be fabricated which carry the same, or even greater, current than the prior art rhodium or tantalum leads. The preferred leads are comprised of NiAl having a B2 crystalline structure, and alternative embodiments are comprised of CuAu, Cu₃Au, Ni₃Al and Fe₃Al.