A spin valve type magnetoresistive transducer of a certain type, and a method of manufacturing the same using a domain stabilization technique (Shaped Spin Valve Type Magnetoresistive Transducer and Method for Fabricating the Same Incorporating Domain Stabilization Technique)

摘要

A magnetoresistive transducer and a method for fabricating the same include an active upper ferromagnetic layer (62) separated by a bottom pinned ferromagnetic layer (58) and a thin nonmagnetic material spacer layer (60). The active ferromagnetic layer 62 and underlying spacer layer 60 are formed in a mesa structure with tapered opposite sides to achieve better surface planarization in the thin film manufacturing process. A pair of permanent magnet layer regions 68, 70 are deposited on the end of the spin valve structure in a coplanar relationship to enhance domain stability, but separated by a relatively thin separation layer therefrom. The magnetic read track width of the device can be accurately and reproducibly determined by defining the spacing between the permanent magnet layer regions 68 and 70 overlying the active ferromagnetic layer 62 using photolithography.