Current-perpendicular-to-plane magnetoresistive read sensor with grooved contact and free layers

摘要

A current-perpendicular-to-plane magnetoresistive read sensor includes a stack of layers extending along a stacking direction, and an edge surface parallel to the stacking direction that forms at least part of a bearing surface of the read sensor, the bearing surface designed to face a recording medium. The stack of layers includes a first contact layer, a ferromagnetic free layer whose magnetic orientation varies according to an applied magnetic field, above the first contact layer, a non-magnetic layer above the ferromagnetic layer, a ferromagnetic spin injection layer above the non-magnetic layer, and a second contact layer above the spin injection layer, such that a current can flow between the second contact layer and the first contact layer along a current-perpendicular-to-plane direction, parallel to the stacking direction. The stack of layers further includes a series of structures extending along a direction parallel to the bearing surface and perpendicular to the stacking direction.

主权项

1. A current-perpendicular-to-plane magnetoresistive read sensor, comprising:
a stack of layers, the layers extending along a stacking direction of the stack; and an edge surface of the stack that is parallel to the stacking direction and further parallel to and forms at least part of a bearing surface of the read sensor, the bearing surface designed to face a recording medium, in operation; the stack of layers further comprising: a first contact layer; a ferromagnetic free layer having magnetic orientation that varies according to an applied magnetic field, the free layer above the first contact layer; a non-magnetic layer above the ferromagnetic layer; a ferromagnetic spin injection layer above the non-magnetic layer; and a second contact layer above the spin injection layer, such that a current can flow between the second contact layer and the first contact layer along a current-perpendicular-to-plane direction, parallel to the stacking direction; wherein the stack of layers further comprises a series of structures, such that each of the structures of the series is formed in both the first contact layer and the free layer, an edge surface of each of the structures level with the edge surface of the stack, and the series of structures extends along a direction that is parallel to the bearing surface and perpendicular to the stacking direction; and wherein the structures of the free layer and the first contact layer are defined by grooves, each having a main direction of extension that is perpendicular to the stacking direction, and transverse to the bearing surface.