Narrow end-on giant magnetoresistance READ-head sensors

End-on (vertical) giant magnetoresistance (GMR) head sensors can be made with high sensitivity and high permeability by use of the parallel coupling existing in sandwich materials and by having the effective easy axis along, rather than across, the sensor. Sensors with widths ranging from 0.75-2.0 μm and with sense currents of 3-4 mA per μm yield near linear peak to peak outputs greater than 1 mV in shielded head structures. For stability, the edge magnetization must be pinned. End-on head sensors are found to be particularly attractive for narrow heads