Title :
Study of magnetic tunnel junction read sensors
Author :
Ho, Michael K. ; Tsang, Ching H. ; Fontana, Robert E., Jr. ; Parkin, Stuart S. ; Carey, Kashmira J. ; Pan, Tao ; MacDonald, Scott ; Arnett, Patrick C. ; Moore, James O.
Author_Institution :
IBM Almaden Res. Center, San Jose, CA, USA
fDate :
7/1/2001 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
Unshielded magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) sensors stabilized by insulating hard magnetic tails have been fabricated. Testing results showed that the control of oxidation condition was important for obtaining MTJ with low junction resistances and high TMR coefficients. The results also showed that the thickness of insulating spacer between hard magnet and MTJ stack had a significant influence on sensor stability. Finally, recording tests of stabilized MTJ read heads demonstrated linear densities of 420 Kbpi at 10-9 ontrack error
Keywords :
magnetic heads; magnetic sensors; magnetoresistive devices; oxidation; tunnelling; MTJ stack; fabrication; hard magnet; hard magnetic tail; insulating spacer; junction resistance; linear density; magnetic recording; on-track error; oxidation; read head; stability; transverse magnetoresistance coefficient; unshielded magnetic tunnel junction sensor; Insulation; Magnetic heads; Magnetic recording; Magnetic sensors; Magnetic tunneling; Magnetosphere; Oxidation; Tail; Testing; Tunneling magnetoresistance;
Journal_Title :
Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on
