METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A MAGNETIC HEAD INCLUDING SHIELD LAYERS WHICH SURROUND A MR ELEMENT

摘要

A method of manufacturing a magnetic head that includes a magneto resistance effect (MR) element of which an electrical resistance changes according to an external magnetic field and shield layers surrounding the MR element, and that reads information of a magnetic recording medium is provided. The manufacturing method includes: a first step of forming a multilayer film including a plurality of layers configuring the MR element on a first shield layer; a second step of removing unnecessary portions of the multilayer film positioned on both sides so as to configure the MR element; a third step of forming an insulating layer on a surface exposed by removing the unnecessary portions; a fourth step of forming a soft magnetic layer covering the MR element in an integrated manner at once on both sides of the MR element and on the MR element so as to configure a second shield layer including the soft magnetic layer; and a fifth step of forming an anisotropy application layer on the second shield layer, the anisotropy application layer providing exchange anisotropy to the soft magnetic layer so as to magnetize the soft magnetic layer in a predetermined direction.