MAGNETORESISTIVE SENSOR HAVING A REDUCED OPERATIONAL TEMPERATURE, PARTICULARLY CONCERNED WITH MAINTAINING A LOW OPERATIONAL TEMPERATURE IN A CPP MR READING SENSOR

摘要

PURPOSE: An MR(Magnetoresistive) sensor having a reduced operational temperature is provided to operate in a CPP(Current-Perpendicular-to-Plane) mode that a sensed current substantially flows perpendicularly to an end section of an MR layer, while adding a radiating layer located in relation to an MR stack, thereby reducing an operational temperature of the sensor. CONSTITUTION: A bottom pinned CPP MR stack(100) consists of cap dual layers(102), a free layer(104), a non-magnetic layer(106), a pinning layer(108), an antiferromagnetic pinning layer(110), and seed dual layers(112). The non-magnetic layer(106) shows an MR effect. The cap dual layers(102) include a thermal sink cap layer(102a) and a metal cap layer(102b). The seed dual layers(112) consist of a metal seed layer(112a) and a thermal sink seed layer(112b). The MR stack(100) is located between an upper shield(24) and a lower shield(28). Permanent magnet hard bias layers(120) bias the free layer(104) and the pinning layer(108), and stabilize the antiferromagnetic pinning layer(110).