1/f noise in saturated GMR heads

Author

Xiao, Min ; Klassen, K.B. ; Van Peppen, Jack C L

Author_Institution

IBM Almaden Res. Center, San Jose, CA, USA

Volume

36

Issue

5

fYear

2000

fDate

9/1/2000 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

2593

Lastpage

2595

Abstract

The extra-low-frequency noise of GMR heads was measured at large saturation fields (~10 kOe). It was 1/f in nature. The head resistance increased exponentially with applied cumulative voltage pulses when the amplitude was larger than 1 V. However, the noise did not change even after the head resistance increased by 18%. This could be explained if the noise was generated mostly from the contiguous junction areas. A supra-linear dependence of noise voltage on sense current was observed. The supra-linearity increased after the sensor height was reduced by lapping. Hooge´s formula was shown to apply at low currents. The excessive noise at high currents and at reduced sensor height was attributed to current crowding, in particular, current crowding caused by current heating

Keywords

1/f noise; giant magnetoresistance; magnetic heads; magnetic recording noise; 1/f noise; Hooge´s formula; applied cumulative voltage pulses; contiguous junction areas; current crowding; current heating; extra-low-frequency noise; head resistance; lapping; large saturation fields; noise voltage; saturated GMR heads; sense current; supra-linear dependence; Electrical resistance measurement; Lapping; Noise generators; Noise level; Noise measurement; Noise reduction; Proximity effect; Sensor phenomena and characterization; Thermal sensors; Voltage;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9464

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/20.908526

Filename

908526