Nano-oxide layers and PtMn-based specular spin valves and heads

Author

Huai, Yiming ; Diao, Z.T. ; Zhang, J.

Author_Institution

Adv. Thin Film & Process, Read-Rite Corp., Fremont, CA, USA

Volume

38

Issue

1

fYear

2002

Firstpage

20

Lastpage

25

Abstract

Nano-oxide layers and relevant spin valves have been investigated. Morphology observation shows that the nano-oxide layers are adequate for current spin valves as thin, dense, and uniform specular reflection layers to enhance scattering of electrons at interfaces. Large enhancement of ΔR/R (∼16% with a ΔR∼3.7 Ω/sq) has been achieved with the help of specular reflection. Both full film and read heads data demonstrated thermally stable magnetic performance. Addition of nano-oxide layers does not compromise head ESD robustness. Readers with nano-oxide layers show amplitude sensitivity of up to 10 mV/μm and are suitable for >50 Gb/in² recording applications.

Keywords

electrostatic discharge; giant magnetoresistance; magnetic heads; spin valves; ESD robustness; PtMn; amplitude sensitivity; giant magnetoresistance; nano-oxide layers; read heads; specular spin valves; thermally stable magnetic performance; uniform specular reflection layers; Electrons; Electrostatic discharge; Magnetic films; Magnetic heads; Morphology; Optical films; Reflection; Robustness; Scattering; Spin valves;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9464

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TMAG.2002.988905

Filename

988905