SPIN VALVE TYPE THIN-FILM MAGNETIC DEVICE, THIN-FILM MAGNETIC HEAD, AND MANUFACTURING METHOD OF SPIN VALVE THIN-FILM MAGNETIC DEVICE

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a spin valve thin-film magnetic device capable of increasing the sensitivity and the resistance changing rate while maintaining the stable ferrimagnetic state of a free magnetic layer. ;SOLUTION: This spindle valve type thin-film magnetic device 1 is provided with an antiferromagnetic layer 13, a fixed magnetic layer 14 having a magnetizing direction fixed by a switched connection magnetic field, a non-magnetic conductive layer 5 brought into contact with the fixed magnetic layer 14, and a free magnetic layer 11 brought into contact with the non-magnetic conductive layer 5. The free magnetic layer 11 is composed of a non-magnetic middle layer 9, and first and second free magnetic layers 10 and 8, and the thickness of the second free magnetic layer 8 located in the non-magnetic conductive layer 5 side is set larger than that of the first free magnetic layer 10. Thus, the resistance changing rate of the spin valve type thin-film magnetic device 1 is increased, and the spin flop magnetic field of the free magnetic layer 11 is increased.;COPYRIGHT: (C)2001,JPO