Magnetoresistance effect element, magnetic head and magnetic recording and/or reproducing system
First Claim
1. A magnetoresistance effect element comprising:
- a magnetization fixed layer in which a direction of magnetization is substantially fixed to one direction;
a magnetization free layer in which a direction of magnetization varies in response to an external magnetic field; and
a non-magnetic intermediate layer provided between the magnetization fixed layer and the magnetization free layer, at least one of the magnetization fixed layer and the magnetization free layer having a stacked body in which ferromagnetic layers and non-magnetic layers are alternately stacked, the non-magnetic layers in the stacked body being thinner than the non-magnetic intermediate layer, a resistance of the magnetoresistance effect element varying in accordance with a relative angle between the direction of magnetization of the magnetization fixed layer and the direction of magnetization of the magnetization free layer, and a sense current being flowed to the magnetization fixed layer, the non-magnetic intermediate layer and the magnetization free layer in a direction substantially perpendicular to surfaces of those layers.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
There is provided a practical magnetoresistance effect element which has an appropriate value of resistance, which can be sensitized and which has a small number of magnetic layers to be controlled, and a magnetic head and magnetic recording and/or reproducing system using the same. In a magnetoresistance effect element wherein a sense current is caused to flow in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the film, if a pinned layer and a free layer have a stacked construction of a magnetic layer and a non-magnetic layer or a stacked construction of a magnetic layer and a magnetic layer, it is possible to provide a practical magnetoresistance effect element which has an appropriate value of resistance, which can be sensitized and which has a small number of magnetic layers, while effectively utilizing the scattering effect depending on spin.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A magnetoresistance effect element comprising:
-
a magnetization fixed layer in which a direction of magnetization is substantially fixed to one direction;
a magnetization free layer in which a direction of magnetization varies in response to an external magnetic field; and
a non-magnetic intermediate layer provided between the magnetization fixed layer and the magnetization free layer, at least one of the magnetization fixed layer and the magnetization free layer having a stacked body in which ferromagnetic layers and non-magnetic layers are alternately stacked, the non-magnetic layers in the stacked body being thinner than the non-magnetic intermediate layer, a resistance of the magnetoresistance effect element varying in accordance with a relative angle between the direction of magnetization of the magnetization fixed layer and the direction of magnetization of the magnetization free layer, and a sense current being flowed to the magnetization fixed layer, the non-magnetic intermediate layer and the magnetization free layer in a direction substantially perpendicular to surfaces of those layers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 17)
-
-
10. A magnetoresistance effect element comprising:
-
a magnetization fixed layer in which a direction of magnetization is substantially fixed to one direction;
a magnetization free layer in which a direction of magnetization varies response to an external magnetic field; and
a non-magnetic intermediate layer provided between the magnetization fixed layer and the magnetization free layer, p1 at least one of the magnetization fixed layer and the magnetization free layer having a stacked body in which two kinds or more of ferromagnetic layers are stacked, a resistance of the magnetoresistance effect element varying in accordance with a relative angle between the direction of magnetization of the magnetization fixed layer and the direction of magnetization of the magnetization free layer, a sense current being flowed to the magnetization fixed layer, the non-magnetic intermediate layer and the magnetization free layer in a direction substantially perpendicular to surfaces of those layers. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification