Magnetoresistive effect element, magnetic head and magnetic reproducing apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A magnetoresistive effect element comprising:
- a magnetoresistive effect film including a magnetization-pinned layer having a magnetic film pinned in magnetization substantially in one direction, a magnetization free layer having a magnetic film variable in direction of magnetization in response to an external magnetic field, and a nonmagnetic metal intermediate layer interposed between said magnetization-pinned layer and said magnetization free layer; and
a pair of electrodes electrically coupled to said magnetoresistive effect film to supply a current substantially perpendicularly to the film plane of said magnetoresistive effect film, at least one of said magnetization-pinned layer, said magnetization free layer and said nonmagnetic metal intermediate layer including a first layer which contains a half-metal as a major component thereof and a second layer whose content of said half-metal is lower than said first layer.
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Abstract
In a CPP element using a metal intermediate layer excellent in shot noise and response to high frequencies unlike a TMR element, its magnetoresistive effect film includes a magnetic layer mainly made of a half-metal exhibiting ferromagnetism, ferrimagnetism or antiferromagnetism, and largely variable in way of conduction in response to spin direction of electrons.
76 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A magnetoresistive effect element comprising:
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a magnetoresistive effect film including a magnetization-pinned layer having a magnetic film pinned in magnetization substantially in one direction, a magnetization free layer having a magnetic film variable in direction of magnetization in response to an external magnetic field, and a nonmagnetic metal intermediate layer interposed between said magnetization-pinned layer and said magnetization free layer; and
a pair of electrodes electrically coupled to said magnetoresistive effect film to supply a current substantially perpendicularly to the film plane of said magnetoresistive effect film, at least one of said magnetization-pinned layer, said magnetization free layer and said nonmagnetic metal intermediate layer including a first layer which contains a half-metal as a major component thereof and a second layer whose content of said half-metal is lower than said first layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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14. A magnetoresistive effect element comprising:
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a magnetoresistive effect film including a magnetization-pinned layer having a magnetic film pinned in magnetization substantially in one direction, a magnetization free layer having a magnetic film variable in direction of magnetization in response to an external magnetic field, and a nonmagnetic metal intermediate layer interposed between said magnetization-pinned layer and said magnetization free layer; and
a pair of electrodes electrically coupled to said magnetoresistive effect film to supply a current substantially perpendicularly to the film plane of said magnetoresistive effect film, a first layer which contains a half-metal as a major component thereof being interposed in at least one of a location between said magnetization-pinned layer and said nonmagnetic metal intermediate layer and a location between said magnetization free layer and said nonmagnetic metal intermediate layer.
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19. A magnetic head comoprising a magnetoresistive effect element having:
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a magnetoresistive effect film including a magnetization-pinned layer having a magnetic film pinned in magnetization substantially in one direction, a magnetization free layer having a magnetic film variable in direction of magnetization in response to an external magnetic field, and a nonmagnetic metal intermediate layer interposed between said magnetization-pinned layer and said magnetization free layer; and
a pair of electrodes electrically coupled to said magnetoresistive effect film to supply a current substantially perpendicularly to the film plane of said magnetoresistive effect film, at least one of said magnetization-pinned layer, said magnetization free layer and said nonmagnetic metal intermediate layer including a first layer which contains a half-metal as a major component thereof and a second layer whose content of said half-metal is lower than said first layer.
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20. A magnetic head comoprising a magnetoresistive effect element having:
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a magnetoresistive effect film including a magnetization-pinned layer having a magnetic film pinned in magnetization substantially in one direction, a magnetization free layer having a magnetic film variable in direction of magnetization in response to an external magnetic field, and a nonmagnetic metal intermediate layer interposed between said magnetization-pinned layer and said magnetization free layer; and
a pair of electrodes electrically coupled to said magnetoresistive effect film to supply a current substantially perpendicularly to the film plane of said magnetoresistive effect film, a first layer which contains a half-metal as a major component thereof being interposed in at least one of a location between said magnetization-pinned layer and said nonmagnetic metal intermediate layer and a location between said magnetization free layer and said nonmagnetic metal intermediate layer.
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21. A magnetic reproducing apparatus which reads information magnetically recorded in a magnetic recording medium,
said magnetic reproducing apparatus comprising a magnetoresistive effect element having: -
a magnetoresistive effect film including a magnetization-pinned layer having a magnetic film pinned in magnetization substantially in one direction, a magnetization free layer having a magnetic film variable in direction of magnetization in response to an external magnetic field, and a nonmagnetic metal intermediate layer interposed between said magnetization-pinned layer and said magnetization free layer; and
a pair of electrodes electrically coupled to said magnetoresistive effect film to supply a current substantially perpendicularly to the film plane of said magnetoresistive effect film, at least one of said magnetization-pinned layer, said magnetization free layer and said nonmagnetic metal intermediate layer including a first layer which contains a half-metal as a major component thereof and a second layer whose content of said half-metal is lower than said first layer.
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22. A magnetic reproducing apparatus which reads information magnetically recorded in a magnetic recording medium,
a magnetoresistive effect film including a magnetization-pinned layer having a magnetic film pinned in magnetization substantially in one direction, a magnetization free layer having a magnetic film variable in direction of magnetization in response to an external magnetic field, and a nonmagnetic metal intermediate layer interposed between said magnetization-pinned layer and said magnetization free layer; - and
a pair of electrodes electrically coupled to said magnetoresistive effect film to supply a current substantially perpendicularly to the film plane of said magnetoresistive effect film, a first layer which contains a half-metal as a major component thereof being interposed in at least one of a location between said magnetization-pinned layer and said nonmagnetic metal intermediate layer and a location between said magnetization free layer and said nonmagnetic metal intermediate layer.
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Specification