SPIN TORQUE OSCILLATOR, METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME, MAGNETIC RECORDING HEAD, MAGNETIC HEAD ASSEMBLY, AND MAGNETIC RECORDING APPARATUS

摘要

According to one embodiment, there is provided a spin torque oscillator including an oscillation layer formed of a magnetic material, a spin injection layer formed of a magnetic material and configured to inject a spin into the oscillation layer, and a current confinement layer including an insulating portion formed of an oxide or a nitride and a conductive portion formed of a nonmagnetic metal and penetrating the insulating portion in a direction of stacking. The conductive portion of the current confinement layer is positioned near a central portion of a plane of a device region including the oscillation layer and the spin injection layer.

主权项

1. A method of manufacturing a spin torque oscillator, the method comprising:
forming a metal layer to be converted into a current confinement layer on a stack including an oscillation layer comprising a magnetic material and a spin injection layer comprising a magnetic material; forming, on the metal layer, a mask layer with a tapered surface at an end thereof; and oxidizing or nitriding an end of the metal layer located under the mask layer formed to include the tapered surface at the end thereof, to form a current confinement layer comprising an insulating portion comprising an oxide or a nitride and a conductive portion comprising a nonmagnetic metal and penetrating the insulating portion in a direction of stacking.